A man who boasted to his friends about stabbing a friend on a WhatsApp group has been jailed for 20 years. Scott Dagg, 43, was found covered with blood on his head and face after attempting to kill a man in Blackburn, Lancashire, in April last year.
Details of the Attack
The victim, in his 30s, was taken to hospital for treatment of stab wounds. Dagg was spotted by emergency workers en route to the scene, swaying on a pedestrian island and talking incoherently. He was also seen on CCTV discarding his phone on top of an electricity box.
WhatsApp Messages Reveal Motive
The phone contained WhatsApp messages sent to friends saying the attack was an act of revenge for an altercation with the victim a few days earlier. In one voice message, Dagg said: “I’m just gutted that I didn’t actually kill him.” His weapon, a knife covered in blood, was recovered nearby wrapped in a towel.
Arrest and Trial
Dagg was re-arrested on May 28 after being initially granted conditional bail. He was found guilty by a unanimous jury following a trial at Preston Crown Court in December. Detective Sergeant Cheryl Taylor said: “Scott Dagg is an extremely dangerous individual who attended the victim’s address with the express purpose of causing him fatal harm. While he was on bail for the extremely serious offence of attempted murder, he then sent voice notes to his friends boasting about what he had done and expressing regret that the victim hadn’t died. I welcome the sentence handed down today which reflects the serious nature of the offending. I want to place on record my thanks to the investigation team for their diligence and tenacity in securing this conviction and substantial sentence.”
Sentencing
Dagg was jailed for 20 years for attempted murder. The case highlights the use of digital evidence in violent crime investigations.
