A bereaved father hatched a brutal revenge attack on a man he believed was responsible for his son's tragic death, placing a tracking device on his car before ambushing him and slashing him 21 times with a 16-inch machete as he left the gym.
Samson Price, 48, attacked his son's childhood friend Patrick Brown just days after a coroner ruled his son Samson Junior's death as accidental drowning.
A court heard how Price had been left 'disgruntled' after Brown was arrested during a police investigation into the death, but was later released without charge.
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During his six-day trial, the Wigan dad told the jury he wanted Brown to 'live a long life full of suffering', and denied any intent to kill. However, he was unanimously convicted of attempted murder by a jury at Chester Crown Court in February. Today, Judge Michael Leeming handed him an extended sentence of 33 years, calling the attack 'chilling'.
Samson Junior tragically drowned in Westwood Flash in October 2020 during a camping trip with Brown and another male, who was also subsequently arrested then released without charge. The court heard how he 'wandered off' after taking a quantity of MDMA, before 'at some point' falling in the water.
A police investigation found that no third party involvement contributed to Samson Junior's death. However, the court heard how Price still held Brown 'responsible' for his son's death, carefully planning an attack which saw Price secretly fit Brown's van with a tracking device and stalking him for a week before ambushing him outside the Puregym in Northwich on September 23.
Price slashed Brown's scalp, face, back, both arms, and right leg with a machete during the 26 second attack, which was witnessed by several members of the public.
He then fled the scene, attempting to destroy evidence and asking his unsuspecting wife to clean and sell his van, before eventually handing himself into a police station in Wakefield three weeks later.
Brown suffered a number of serious injuries, including a 'severe' laceration to his right leg, which nearly severed the limb from his body, and permanent scarring. Judge Leeming said he was 'lucky' to be alive.
Prosecuting, Mr Simon Mills read two victim personal statements written by Brown, now 22, who described how his extensive injuries have left him unable to work as a roofer, and suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. He said he now suffers from Post Tramuatic Stress Disorder, and 'often thinks about how close he came to dying'.
Mr Mills called the assault a 'revenge attack, carried out by the man who was disgruntled at the outcome of a police investigation'.
Defending, Mr Paul Becker said the offence was 'undoubtedly very serious', but argued Price had shown remorse for his actions. He said Price was also suffering from PTSD following the loss of his son 'under terrible circumstances'.
"The tragedy is going to have an effect," he added.
Sentencing, Judge Leeming said he was not satisfied that a definitive sentence was enough to protect Mr Brown or the public from Price, adding that Price was 'still a risk' to Mr Brown's safety.
"Just ten days after the conclusion of the inquest [into Samson Junior's death], you carried out this offence," he told Price. "You were wholly dissatisfied that the police investigation had not resulted in any prosecution."
He said Price carried out a 'carefully thought out plan' to 'take down and kill Patrick Brown, the young man you held responsible for the death of your son'.
"Realising you were being watched by members of the public, you decided to flee the scene. I am sure you were set in your own mind the victim was at the point of death."
He told Price he rejected his assertions to the jury that he had wanted to seriously injure, but not kill, Brown, adding that the jurors unanimously found there had been intent to kill.
Price was sentenced to an extended sentence of 33 years imprisonment. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order against Patrick Brown.
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