Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Saturday 5th April 2025 at 04:35hrs
A man who stalked his ex-girlfriend from London to Manchester before launching a vicious knife attack on her and her new partner has been jailed for 13 years.
Viet Tran, 22, of Leigh Crescent, Croydon, was sentenced yesterday (Thursday, April 3, 2025) at Manchester Crown Square Court after being found guilty of Section 18 and Section 20 assault.
The court heard how Tran, a Vietnamese national, meticulously planned the attack in the early hours of Sunday, August 4, 2024.
Driven by jealousy and obsession following the breakdown of his relationship, Tran tracked his former partner, also a Vietnamese national, as she embarked on a day trip to Manchester with her new male partner, also Vietnamese.
Detectives uncovered the extensive lengths Tran went to in order to locate his victims. He paid an individual on the ‘dark web’ to hack his ex-girlfriend’s phone, enabling him to track her movements and access her private messages.
His stalking and harassment escalated after he discovered she was travelling to Manchester for a first date in late July 2024.
This allowed him to obtain ticket and booking details for the various locations the couple planned to visit across the city centre, including popular venues Cibo and Roxy’s Ballroom.
Following the stabbing incident, a thorough investigation by detectives revealed a clear motive and quickly identified Tran as the prime suspect.
Cell site data confirmed that Tran’s movements mirrored those of the victim, placing him in close proximity throughout their day in Manchester.
Further enquiries unearthed disturbing evidence of Tran’s premeditation, including online searches for a podcast titled “how to get revenge on a woman.”
CCTV footage from both London and Manchester, including his train journey to Piccadilly, showed him secretly following the couple from a distance of approximately 100 yards.
The attack took place as the victims walked from Liverpool Road towards Castlefield and paused on a grass bank.
Tran launched his assault by spraying UV paint into their eyes to disorientate them before proceeding to stab both individuals.
Doorbell footage from a nearby moored barge captured Tran fleeing the scene immediately after the crime, removing a balaclava as he ran.
Despite not being previously known to police, Tran went to considerable efforts to conceal evidence after the attack.
He returned to London and disposed of his clothing, including the balaclava and the knife, in a wooded area near the crime scene.
He was apprehended by the Metropolitan Police in the early hours of the following day at a known location.
The judge presiding over the case described it as “one of the most pre-meditated Section 18 cases they have seen.”
Both victims sustained serious injuries during the attack and have since begun their long road to recovery, remaining together in their relationship.
In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, one of the victims shared the terrifying ordeal:
“At the moment I was stabbed, I had the genuine belief that I was going to die. I have never before in my life, found myself in a situation where I had to contemplate my three young children to grow up in a world without their father… the fact that I believed I was going to die is still something I feel I am coming to terms with.”
He also detailed the lasting physical and emotional impact of the attack:
“Before this incident, I was an active and outgoing individual… Since this incident however, this is a noticeable part which I have still not fully recovered from.
This is due to the physical limitations of my body due to the injuries which I sustained… As well the physical scarring which has been left on my body, I am still dealing with the notable emotional damage… Since this incident, I find that I am unable to relax and become agitated and nervous when out in public.
This is in stark contrast to how I was before I was attacked. I do not know if I will ever be in a place where I feel completely safe when I leave the house, and this causes me significant frustration and upset.”
Detective Constable Sam Cullen from the Criminal Investigations Department commented:
“Since we became aware of this shocking incident which could have had fatal consequences, we were determined to find and track down the person responsible. It is clear to see from the evidence we uncovered that Tran knew exactly what he was going to do on that through pure jealously.”
He added: “I’m pleased we were able to support the victims through the prosecution to give them justice as it has been an extremely tough time that they have had to deal with, the only positive being they have had each other to get through this.
Stalking and harassment on any level should not be tolerated and would urge any other victims to come forward and report it, as we will listen and support you through the circumstances you find yourself in.”
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