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Man, 64, stabbed girlfriend 70 times in frenzied attack then watched TV next to her body

Donald Payne stabbed girlfriend Simone Ambler more than 70 times in a drug-fuelled psychotic rage. (SWNS)
Donald Payne stabbed girlfriend Simone Ambler more than 70 times in a drug-fuelled psychotic rage. (SWNS)

An elderly man stabbed his girlfriend more than 70 times in a drug-fuelled psychotic rage, then sat and watched TV next to her dead body.

Donald Payne, 64, killed mum-of-two Simone Ambler, 49, in March 2021 after he became convinced she was spiking his tea, a court heard.

After the frenzied attack he called police and said: "I stabbed, I've stabbed her. I've been arguing with her. I don't want to be with her. She's been getting on my nerves."

When police officers got to the house in Blackpool, Lancashire, they found Ambler's body face down on the floor with Payne sitting in a chair nearby, watching television.

Preston Crown Court heard that a post-mortem examination found 70 knife injuries from a 13cm blade found at the scene, including three to the head and 11 to her neck, including one that severed her artery.

A general view of Preston Crown Court, Preston.
Payne was sentenced at Preston Crown Court. (Stock image: PA)

A further 18 injuries were found to Ambler's chest, 11 to the abdomen, eight to her left arm, nine to the right, as well as eight to her left leg and six to the right, the court heard. She had also suffered a number of rib fractures.

Prosecutor Paul Cummings told the court: "The victim had received multiple wounds all over her body.

"The effect of that was that sadly, despite the presence of a number of paramedics, a decision was taken fairly soon that Ms Ambler had died."

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Payne was charged with murder and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter in November last year.

At his sentencing at Preston Crown Court, Judge Simon Medland heard he had been suffering from an undiagnosed psychotic illness at the time of the attack, which had been worsened by his long-term use of alcohol, heroin, crack cocaine and spice.

Donald Payne.  An elderly man stabbed his girlfriend more than 70 times in a drug-fuelled psychotic rage - and then sat and watched television next to her dead body, a court heard.  See SWNS story SWLEtelevision.  Donald Payne, 64, killed mum-of-two Simone Ambler, 49, in March 2021 after becoming convinced she was spiking his tea.  After carrying out the 'dreadful, appalling' attack he called the police and said:
After killing Ambler, Payne called the police and said: "I stabbed, I've stabbed her." (SWNS)

His daughter Emily Payne told the court: "My dad did not trust authority figures. He was adamant they were after him and he mentioned that Simone was putting stuff into his tea and indicated that she was working for them."

Another witness said Payne had said Ambler was 'making him go mental' and he thought she had been drugging him.

The court heard that Payne's condition had significantly affected his ability to act rationally and he had expressed remorse for what he had done.

The 64-year-old, who had 49 previous convictions, including an eight year prison sentence for grievous bodily harm in 1991, was handed a life sentence, reduced to 18 years due to his guilty plea.

He must serve a minimum of 12 years, minus 435 days he has already spent in custody, before he can be considered for release.

Payne had become convinced that Ambler was spiking his tea. (SWNS)
Payne had become convinced that Ambler was spiking his tea. (SWNS)

Judge Medland said: "The manner of this killing was a dreadfully appalling attack with a knife.

"There are 70-odd stab wounds on the victim and they would have required considerable force to inflict.

"This is not the first time you have attacked another person, in particular another female partner.

"You are 64 and you have many offences against your name committed over many years - but I balance this against the dreadful nature of your upbringing.

"You have continued to use drugs over many years, including spice... the outcome is you carried out a dreadful attack on your female partner.

"This was during a psychotic episode, but a psychotic episode which was, in part, caused by your voluntary use of substances which had greatly unbalanced your mental stability.

"Considering the previous convictions... the defendant has evidenced himself as capable of serious violent offences and under these circumstances it's my view that he poses a serious risk of harm to known adults."