Spurned man faces jail over vicious attack on ex's new partner
A spurned man was today facing jail after being found guilty of the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend's new partner, who was attacked and left for dead.
A jury has convicted Kevin Pallatina for the attack on Richard Crane, whose injuries were so bad he was put in an induced coma. Shrewsbury Crown Court was told the 45-year-old attacked Mr Crane, known as Digger, with a sword, small axe or machete. He denied the attack near the Anchor pub in Chester Road, Brownhills, in the early hours of February 19, 2010.
However, he was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday following a week-long trial.
Judge Robin Onions asked for risk assessments from psychiatrists and probation before he sentenced Pallatina, of Bridgewater Close, Walsall Wood.
But he said a jail sentence was "inevitable". The trial was told Mr Crane was left for dead in the snow after suffering cuts to his face and head, heavy bruising and a smashed eye socket.
The victim has since made a "remarkable" recovery but remembers nothing of the attack.
Disturbed
The court heard that Pallatina believed his ex-partner Lorraine Maskell and Mr Crane were forming a relationship in the weeks after he had split from her following his own short relationship with her between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010.
After the verdict was delivered by the jury the court heard that in 2007 Pallatina had a serious injury where he was hit over the head with a crow bar when he disturbed someone in his car.
Judge Onions said he would have to decide if the defendant is a danger and if there was significant risk of future violence.
The court was told that in March 2008, Pallatina's second wife asked him to leave after a three-month marriage and was later bombarded with text messages and phone calls.
