Hammer attacker gets 20 years for bludgeoning boss

A FORMER ambulance service worker who tried to kill her boss in a brutal hammer attack texted a friend afterwards saying "I've smashed her head in. Oppsie xx!"

- CHRIS SLATER

Stacey Smith, 46, 'ambushed' her manager at North West Ambulance Service, Michala Morton, outside her home in Dukinfield, Tameside, after simmering resentment over her and her wife's shift patterns boiled over.

Smith showed a 'significant degree of planning' by looking up Ms Morton's address online via her victim's husband's business, and then checking her rota to determine when she would be leaving for work, a court heard.

She then attacked 'unsuspecting and defenceless' Ms Morton 'without warning, striking her repeatedly with the weapon. The first blow was aimed at her head and broke her wrist as she put up her hand to protect herself. She then struck numerous further blows to the head, arms, legs and torso as she lay stricken on the ground.

Smith eventually dropped the hammer in the street and drove off. Smith later sent text messages to a friend saying "I've done it. I've smashed her head in. Oppsie xx!" police revealed.

She also said she would 'go on the run' to Liverpool but instead came to her senses and handed herself into Ashton Police Station, where she was arrested.

A number of neighbours on her quiet street came out to help Ms Morton, giving her first aid and putting the hammer in a plastic bag ready to be forensically examined.