A football thug who slashed a woman’s throat because she “messed up” his TV recordings of Euro 2020 has been jailed for 22 years.
Alcoholic Ian Hensworth, 63, flew into a rage and accused Linsey Perry of breaking his Digibox which he had used to record the Euro 2020 football matches on TV.
He accused her of wrecking his TV recordings so marched to a nearby Costcutter where he bought a craft knife, a court heard.
When he returned he attacked Linsey with the craft knife in front of their horrified friends.
Mrs Perry, 41, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition and survived the attack but suffered horrific injuries.
Hensworth was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial at Nottingham Crown Court and jailed for 22 years on Wednesday.
Hensworth was watching football with friends at his home in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, on June 16 last year when he got into row with Mrs Perry.
The court heard he accused her of wrecking his TV recordings so marched to a nearby Costcutter where he bought a craft knife.
When he returned home he walked up to Mrs Perry who was sitting on a chair and slashed her throat.
He then ran out of the house and moved into the alleyway a few doors down before sitting down.
Police and medics were called when he was arrested Hensworth told officers Mrs Perry had “messed up his football” so he “killed her”.
He added: “She broke my football and I slashed her throat that’s all there is to it full stop.”
Speaking after the case, Detective Constable James Newton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack which very nearly cost a woman her life.
“If it wasn’t for the quick actions of the victim’s friends and the first police officers to the scene, it is likely that the victim would have died, and it is both fortunate and thankful that she made a recovery given the injuries he inflicted on her.
“The pair knew each other and there was a lot of trust there, so it is abhorrent that he also betrayed that.
“Astonishingly, after the incident he remained completely nonchalant, admitting the offence to officers and quite bluntly stating he thought he had killed her, saying that the reason was because she had ‘messed up his football’.
“Not only this, he then went on to plead not guilty and put the victim and others involved through a trial, which could only go one way given the evidence.
“I am very pleased that the courts have recognised the seriousness of Hensworth’s actions and that he will now go on to serve a lengthy jail term.
"I hope this gives him the opportunity to reflect on his actions and realise the impact this has caused, and I also hope the victim is able to seek closure from this now and move forward with her life.”
