Man jailed for manslaughter after stabbing in Blackpool

A man has been jailed for 12 years after killing a man in Blackpool with a kitchen knife. 

James Welsh stabbed Ryan Broxup in the right leg during a confrontation in the communal gardens of Thornham Court, Hollywood Avenue, Blackpool, shortly before 8am on August 6th last year.

Ryan, 49, did not die at the scene, but medical intervention could not prevent his death the following day from multi-organ failure.

That followed cardiac arrest because of severe blood loss caused by the stab wound to his leg.

Ryan and James Welsh were acquaintances but had fallen out as Welsh thought Ryan was taking advantage of him by letting himself in to his flat, helping himself to food and asking Welsh if he could use the flat to sell drugs.

The pair argued which led to the fatal altercation outside on August 6th.

Welsh, 55, formerly of Hollywood Avenue, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and possession of an offensive weapon.

He had denied murder and was found not guilty by a jury following a trial at Preston Crown Court.

Judge Simon Medland KC, jailed Welsh for 12 years for manslaughter, with a concurrent sentence of 12 months for possession of an offensive weapon.

Passing sentence, the judge said that Welsh taking the knife to the confrontation with Ryan was an aggravating feature of the case.

Following the trial, Ryan’s mum Mary Broxup spoke of her loss and paid an emotional tribute to her son.

She said: “Ryan was the last family member I had. Ryan (pictured below) lived his own life and had moved to various places across the UK, the most recent place being Blackpool.

“Although he lived away the majority of his adult life, he would always stay in touch. He would ring regularly, and I would try to visit him wherever he was.

“If I needed Ryan, he was there for me.

“I did not see Ryan as an angel and I know he did wrong to people sometimes, however he didn’t deserve to be killed. Other people during the trial had been given the opportunity to say what happened that day in August but Ryan didn’t have that opportunity and not will be able to.”

 Detective Inspector Simon Pritchard, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT) said: “Incidents involving knives can have tragic consequences and this was sadly such an occasion.

“Ryan Broxup lost his life because Welsh chose to arm himself with a knife – Welsh now has to carry that responsibility.

“Knife crime is a blight on communities and the Lancashire Violence Reduction Network and other partners continue working together to prevent knife and violent crime happening.”

If you know someone is carrying a knife please don’t stay silent, contact 101 or report it anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.