A 17-year-old Bulgarian national has been charged with attempted murder following a stabbing near a golf course in Stafford. The attack occurred on Thursday, May 14, when a man in his 60s was stabbed from behind while walking near the Stafford Castle golf course just before 7pm.
Details of the Attack
The victim, who has not been named but is believed to be from Stafford, was walking on a public footpath adjacent to the golf course. Police described the attack as unprovoked, with the assailant approaching from behind and stabbing the man. The victim was left fighting for his life and remains in hospital in critical but stable condition.
Arrests and Charges
The suspect, a 17-year-old boy of Bulgarian nationality, was arrested on Tuesday, May 19. He has been charged with attempted murder and theft from a shop. Due to his age, he cannot be named for legal reasons. He is scheduled to appear at the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Saturday, May 23.
A 30-year-old man was also arrested in connection with the incident but has been released with no further action taken.
Police Appeal
Staffordshire Police have urged the public to avoid speculation or public commentary regarding the case as legal proceedings are ongoing. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Fitzgerald stated: "The arrest is a significant development in our investigation which continues at pace. I have a range of specialist resources dedicated to this investigation."
Police previously released CCTV footage of a suspect and set up a forensic tent near the putting green where the attack occurred. Fitzgerald added: "The response from the community has been invaluable with lots of people sharing information and CCTV footage. However, I must ask people not to use AI or other software to enhance any of the images we have shared. It is incredibly harmful to our investigation, particularly when arrests have been made and legal proceedings are active."
The victim's family is being supported by specialist officers.
