Father charged over stabbing

A teenage father-of-one today appeared in court charged with the murder of his mother’s partner, who died from a single stab wound to the chest.

Ashley David Lovekin, aged 18, of Bunns Lane, Kates Hill, appeared at Dudley magistrates in connection with the stabbing of Lance Hamilton (pictured).

Lovekin spoke only to confirm his name and address and no plea was indicated.

He was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court at a date to be fixed.

Meanwhile, the mother of the stabbing victim has today paid tribute to a “loving son and father.”

Gloria Parke said she was devastated about the death of her son, aged 33.

She said: “Lance was a caring, loving son and father. Lance will be sadly missed.”

Mr Hamilton was found collapsed on the pavement in Wolverton Road following the attack in the early hours of Sunday.

Officers were called to Wolverton Road at around 2am where they discovered the victim who was taken to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley where he later died.

A post mortem has confirmed he died from a single stab wound to the chest.