Man jailed for stabbing 'Coronation Street' actor

A man who stabbed the Coronation Street actor John Savident in the neck after meeting him at a gay bar has been jailed for seven years.

Michael Smith, 30, attacked Mr Savident, who plays the butcher Fred Elliot, two years ago. They had met hours earlier in Manchester's Gay Village after a personal appearance by the actor for World Aids Day.

Mr Savident told Manchester Crown Court he had gone to Napoleon's Bar to see the owner, and he was approached by Smith, who claimed to be a drama student. The two chatted for up to three hours.

When the bar closed, he invited Smith back to his flat. When he went into his bedroom to plug his mobile phone in to charge, he was shoved face down into his bed at knifepoint. Smith demanded valuables and the keys to Mr Savident's sports car. During a struggle Mr Savident's neck was cut twice. One of the wounds missed his main artery by less than an inch. The actor lost about two pints of blood.

Mr Savident managed to call emergency services and lock Smith out when he went downstairs to Mr Savident's garage.

Smith was found guilty of wounding Mr Savident with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, and robbery. He was jailed for seven years in September, but the case could not be reported until he was convicted of an unrelated robbery charge yesterday. Judge Gerard Humphries told Smith, of Ashton-under-Lyme, that he could expect a long custodial sentence for robbery, theft and false imprisonment.

Earlier this year in a third case, Smith admitted two counts of kidnap, one of aggravated vehicle-taking and assault with intent to commit robbery, all relating to a separate incident in Greater Manchester. He will be sentenced for those offences, and yesterday's convictions, next month.