Ex-lover jailed for murder bid
A spurned lover has been jailed indefinitely for attacking his ex-girlfriend's new man with a machete and leaving him for dead in the snow.
Kevin Pallatina hit Richard Crane 13 times with the weapon in Brownills High Street, leaving him with a smashed eye socket.
The 45-year-old was given an indeterminate prison sentence yesterday but must serve at least 10 years.
He was jailed almost three years to the day of the frenzied attack in the early hours of February 19, 2010.
Judge Robin Onions told him: "The attack lacked mercy and went on and on and on. You left him for dead. All who have seen the photographs have seen the extent of bleeding. Police officers said they had never seen so much blood."
Pallatina, of Bridgewater Close, Walsall Wood, had split up with Lorraine Maskell after a year and believed she and 47-year-old Mr Crane, known as Digger, were forming a romance.
Victim Mr Crane was on the phone to Miss Maskell when attacked. Pallatina was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury.
Judge Onions, sitting at Shrewsbury Crown Court, said Pallatina was unable to accept his split from Miss Maskell, sending her threatening messages. He said:?"You were completely obsessed with her and completely unable to let her go."
