Advertisement

Grandfather jailed for life after stabbing daughter's ex-partner to death in 'frenzied attack'

Lance Woollard
Lance Woollard murdered his daughter’s ex-partner Nigel Ebbage in a 'frenzied attack' with two knives. (Cambridgeshire Police)

A grandfather who stabbed his daughter’s ex-partner to death in a "frenzied attack" has been jailed for life.

Lance Woollard, 65, stabbed 35-year-old Nigel Ebbage 20 times at his home in April, leaving his body for his partner to find when she came home.

Woollard, of Richmond Avenue, March, Cambridgeshire, has now been jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years after previously pleading guilty to murder at Cambridge Crown Court.

Ebbage had split from Woollard's daughter previously and there was due to be a court hearing to decide contact arrangements between them and their children. (Cambridgeshire Police)
Nigel Ebbage had split from Lance Woollard's daughter previously and there was due to be a court hearing to decide contact arrangements between the former couple and their children. (Cambridgeshire Police)

The court heard that the victim had split from Woollard's daughter in 2016.

Following the split, Ebbage was accused of starting a fire at her home but was acquitted of arson in 2019.

Read more: Thieving carer jailed after beating housebound pensioner to death

Just before his murder, there was due to be a court hearing to determine future contact arrangements between Ebbage and his ex-partner and their two children, who were living with her at the time.

On the day of the attack on 29 April, Woollard knew Ebbage would be working from home in Wimblington, near March, Cambridgeshire.

Ebbage's body was found at the bottom of the stairs at his home by his partner. (Cambridgeshire Police)
Nigel Ebbage's body was found at the bottom of the stairs at his home by his partner. (Cambridgeshire Police)

He went to the house and stabbed the 35-year-old 20 times with two knives, leaving his body at the foot of the stairs.

Ebbage's body was found by his partner when she came home for her lunch.

Woollard was arrested by police within hours. His hands and the steering wheel of his car had blood on them and forensic searches later found one of his fingertips had been sliced off at the crime scene.

He refused to answer any questions after his arrest but pleaded guilty to murder on 29 June at Cambridge Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Dale Mepstead, from Cambridgeshire Police, said: "Lance Woollard knew Nigel was going to be working alone from home that day and he visited with the intention of murdering him.

"It was a frenzied attack and while Nigel tried to defend himself, the wounds he received to the chest were tragically fatal.

"Nigel’s loss has had a devastating effect on those who knew and loved him and, while nothing will ever heal that grief, I hope the result today will give them some comfort, knowing that justice has been done."

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK News