Stabbed 20 Times...by My Workmate

Deborah Evans, 43, felt sorry for the quiet, shy man who worked alongside her in the factory. But appearances can be deceptive…

- Rebecca Lewis & Louise Baty

As the manager droned on, I glanced at the stranger next to me. ‘He’s going on a bit,’ I muttered jokingly. It was July 2014 and, with 12 others, I was at an induction talk on the first day of a new job, working on the factory floor of AB world Foods in Leigh, Greater Manchester. Afterwards, I introduced myself to my new colleagues.

‘I’m Deborah,’ I smiled, extending a hand to the bloke next to me. ‘Brian Deakin,’ he replied. a tall, well-built man, he had a shyness about him that made him seem somehow smaller. But being a kind person, I couldn’t stand to see someone on the sidelines. 

After that day I tried to chat to Brian, but he didn’t make it easy to be friends. He rarely came for drinks after work. a bachelor, he lived with his elderly parents and preferred playing videogames to socialising. But one day, in December 2014, I invited my colleagues round to my house for a drink. and to my amazement Brian accepted. ‘How are you?’ I asked and we made awkward small talk. But within no time, he’d drained his glass and shrugged on his coat. Typical Brian. I tried to be friendly. I even told him I had some marvel DVDs for him – but four months later, in April 2015, Brian quit his job so I never got round to giving them to him. I sent him a polite Facebook message, wishing him luck for the future. But I didn’t think I’d ever see him again.

Growing close 

Over the next weeks, I grew close to another colleague, Jonathan, then 28. He was 13 years younger than me, yet I’d been single for 10 years and there was an unexpected spark between us.