Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Tuesday 25th March 2025, at 08:00hrs
Ben Ruddock, 20, of Kendal Drive, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for the manslaughter of 34-year-old Lloyd Velasquez.
The sentencing, which took place at Chester Crown Court on Monday, March 24, 2025, followed a 15-day trial where Ruddock was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on January 21, 2025.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The court heard that Lloyd Velasquez and a female friend visited Ruddock’s residence at approximately 7:15 PM to retrieve an e-bike believed to have been stolen.
A minor altercation ensued, and the e-bike was recovered.
Following this, Ruddock sent a series of threatening voice notes to the woman’s phone, directed at Lloyd. He then armed himself with a knife from a barbecue set and challenged Lloyd to a confrontation at a local park.
At around 8:10 PM, Lloyd and his friend encountered Ruddock, accompanied by two other men, on Hollybush Way. An initial confrontation led Lloyd to retreat into his vehicle. Further threatening voice notes were sent by Ruddock. A second encounter occurred on Summertrees Road, where an altercation resulted in Ruddock fatally stabbing Lloyd. Ruddock subsequently fled the scene.
Paramedics and police officers arrived, and Lloyd Velasquez was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was a stab wound to the chest.
Following the incident, Ruddock returned to his address, left the knife in the garden, and changed his blood-stained clothes at a nearby location.
He then arranged transport to Hapsford Services and traveled to Merseyside. Officers later recovered the weapon from Ruddock’s garden and arrested him in Merseyside in the early hours of Thursday, May 2, 2024.
Detective Inspector Andrea Price stated, “While no sentence is going to bring Lloyd back, I hope the conclusion of this investigation and subsequent court process will help to bring some closure to his family and friends, knowing Ruddock has been jailed.
This incident was entirely avoidable. Ruddock chose to arm himself with a knife and made continued threats towards Lloyd. The incident itself was over in a matter of seconds – and I hope this serves as a warning of the dangers of knife crime and the devastating consequences it can have.”
Lloyd Velasquez’s mother provided a heartfelt statement, saying,
“There are no words to describe the amount of hurt and heartache Lloyd’s death has left, not only for his immediate family, relatives and close friends, but for his baby son, born just nine weeks after Lloyd was tragically killed on that fateful day on 1 May 2024.
Everyone who mourns Lloyd knew him and loved him. Yet, his son will never have the opportunity to meet and get to know his dad, something no child should have to endure.”
Lloyd’s father added “The family would like to thank everyone involved regarding the investigation into the death of Lloyd Velasquez.
From the police and legal team for their swift capture of the offender and work on the case, to the bystanders and ambulance service who assisted at the scene.
We are so grateful for all their hard work and support throughout this awful ordeal. Our Lloyd was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, uncle, and dad to the lovely son who he sadly never got the chance to meet.
The loss of Lloyd has left a massive hole in all of our lives. We can now only cherish our memories of him.”
The two men who were with Ruddock during the incident were initially arrested but later released without further action.
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