JAILED: Thug Craig Roberts, who stabbed ex-girlfriend's new man
A THUG who subjected his ex-girlfriend's new man to a "brutal, cowardly and pre-meditated" stabbing attack has been jailed for more than eight years.
Craig Roberts ambushed Matthew Evans as he went on a first date with Roberts' ex-partner, Zoe Waterson.
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Craig Roberts
Bristol Crown Court was told Roberts burst into Miss Waterson's flat and stabbed Mr Evans at least four times. The 23-year-old landscape gardener thought he was going to die in the attack. He spent nearly two weeks in hospital with a catalogue of serious injuries to his head, lung, liver, stomach and shoulder.
Father-of-two Roberts, of Garland House, Churchill Avenue, Clevedon, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on October 6 last year.
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Yesterday he was jailed for eight years and eight months, and told he must serve a minimum of two-thirds of the sentence.
Once released Roberts must serve a three-year extended licence period.
The 29-year-old was also ordered to stay away from Mr Evans indefinitely.
Sentencing him, Judge Michael Longman called Roberts a dangerous offender, adding: "Mr Evans was entirely innocent. The attack was brutal, cowardly and pre-meditated as a result of jealously, which has led you to behave violently in the past."
Afterwards Mr Evans' mother Karen, 44, of Portishead, told The Post she believed Roberts had not been jailed for long enough
Mrs Evans said: "He is a dangerous person and the sentence is too lenient in my eyes."
Kenneth Bell, prosecuting, said Miss Waterson ended her relationship with Roberts in 2011.
She had arranged a date with Mr Evans and, after drinks at her flat, they went to the Poacher pub in Portishead, where Mr Evans received calls from a man with a blocked number, who said: "You're a dead man."
As the pair entered Miss Waterson's flat, Mr Evans was attacked.
Mr Bell said: "He felt a sharp pain in his back, he looked round and he saw someone with a hood up. He recognised the person described to him as Miss Waterson's ex-partner."
Mr Evans fell to the floor, where the attacked continued before he managed to scramble away, locking himself in a bathroom, and dialling 999.
Mr Bell said: "He was given advice on the phone by paramedics to put pressure on his wounds.
"He had bleeding from his liver and an operation on his right lung to remove a blood clot."
After the attack police discovered Roberts had sent Miss Waterson messages on the night of the attack, which included the phrases "you are going to lose everything", "gonna enjoy this" and "can't wait to go back inside".
The court heard Mr Evans was now fearful of leaving his home and worried about starting relationships in case ex-boyfriends appeared.
Harry Ahuja, defending, said: "He acknowledges that the victim was an innocent party. He now appreciates the victim may not have been aware of him having a continued relationship with his ex-partner. He says he and Zoe Waterson continued a relationship up to three days before."
The court heard Roberts has a daughter with Miss Waterson.
Mr Ahuja added that Roberts had applied for anger management and victim awareness courses in prison.
22 Comments
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by smileitsdonna
Sunday, May 05 2013, 12:05PM
“Hello to all my friends who read this. Craig Roberts is a spoilt baby. its okay for him to sleep with other girls, but you look at a guy and he goes off the rails. Thats why I dumped him. he told me to stop seeing other boys, who were just long term friends. He is crazy and should be in an insane assylum. I am sorry for Zoe to be exposed to that creep. Girl you need to get an injunction to keep that animal from your door and get full custody of your child through the courts. take my advise and dont let his mother near you. I remember her. She is poison. Smokes like a chimney and totally self obsessed. I knew cousins from the Roberts family. They are really nice. It is so unfair that they have these parasites for relatives.
Seriously, break contact with his family. Keep your friends close and dont let you or your baby anywhere near him or his creep mum.”
by noggin
Tuesday, April 30 2013, 10:18PM
“i knew him when he was in school. craig was a thug then too. he has been in front of judges a lot and got away with abh, gbh, theft from his grans flat who he thought was dying. he is one bit of scum from a pond with three brothers also scum with criminal records. i know is parent in clevedon. they are apples from a bad tree. his uncle leslie condliffe is a pedo sent to prison. bet their family is real proud of them both.”
by casper1968
Monday, February 04 2013, 2:06PM
“It is worrying that a judge cannot see the seriousness of this offence, which should have been attempted murder!
Time and time again, stupid silly sentences are given out each time, and the criminal given too many chances, what about the chance of the victim Mr Judge????????????
Diabolical!!!!!”
by oldwester
Monday, February 04 2013, 10:12AM
“hang the *******!!!”
by Sheep
Monday, February 04 2013, 12:37AM
“In The Dock:
Friday, February 17, 2012
Local newspaper,Clevedon,Portishead TIMES......
Craig Roberts (28), of Churchill Avenue, Clevedon. breach of restraining order: Sent to prison for two months. Assault: Sent to prison for two weeks (consecutive). Two Counts Of Breach Of Suspended Sentence: Sent To Prison For Three Months (Consecutive).
This is just ONE that i found when googled!..Just a little bit worrying when this is one of many,most i beleave he got away with through lack of evidence.
Seems like he just keeps getting away with it time and time again.
It's got to stop before he kill's someone,which going on his past record probably will happen one day!.
So what in the hell is going on in the head ofJudge Michael Longman and the justice system in this country with it's leniant sentences.
The more i search the more i find this sentence and others like it are not serving the honest law abiding people. And it STINKS.”
by casper1968
Saturday, February 02 2013, 10:04PM
“Curently are awaiting to hear a response, but my faith in the whole justice system has failed.
Many thanks rg146”
by rg146
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:16PM
“its preposterous, what is wrong with our so called 'justice system', knife crime & domestic violence is supposedly to be looked at seriously in this country! what sort of message does this send out? surely they would have to reconsider this stupidly short sentence if all parties envolved appealed it let alone any member of the public?. i wish you all the best”
by casper1968
Saturday, February 02 2013, 8:35PM
“rg146 you are correct, this is one among many that he got away with!
For a person like this to be locked up indefinately, the justice system waits for a life to be taken!”
by rg146
Saturday, February 02 2013, 8:12PM
“this sentence is absurd to say the least, & correct me if im wrong but isn't this the same disgusting person who set fire to a flat in clevedon in 2011 (same name & address) it was reported in one of the local newspapers? he never got charged due to lack of evidence, even though it all pointed towards him? This guy is obviously a very dangerous criminal who constantly re offends he should be in my opinion locked up indefinatly!!”
by casper1968
Saturday, February 02 2013, 7:59PM
“I believe if gbh with intent fits into a certain criteria, then the general attornery can ask a solicitor to look at it, by request from any member of public. This then could possibly proceed to another judge looking at the sentance. It could remain the same, or he can increase the sentance but not decrease it.”