Boyfriend, 31, is found guilty of stabbing his 23-year-old student girlfriend to death 10 years after three of her family members died in a fire

  • Natasha Wild, 23, died of a single stab wound to the neck at her Rochdale home
  • Lloyd Brackenbury is facing a lengthy spell behind bars for killing his girlfriend
  • The 31-year-old was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month

Lloyd Brackenbury, 31, is facing years behind bars after stabbing girlfriend Natasha Wild (pictured together) to death at their home

Lloyd Brackenbury, 31, is facing years behind bars after stabbing girlfriend Natasha Wild (pictured together) to death at their home

A man is facing a lengthy prison sentence after he was convicted of stabbing his girlfriend to death with a single wound to the neck at the home they shared together.

Lloyd Brackenbury was found guilty of the manslaughter of 23-year-old Natasha Wild, just over a decade after she lost three of her family members in a house fire, but cleared of her murder. 

A court heard the 31-year-old called an ambulance to their house in Syke, Rochdale, and when paramedics arrived the school dinner lady was on the sofa struggling to breathe and Brackenbury was covered in blood.

Ms Wild was rushed to hospital but later died.

A post-mortem found Ms Wild died of a single stab wound to the neck.

Brackenbury denied murder and was found not guilty by a jury after an eight-day trial at Manchester Crown Court.

However he was found guilty of manslaughter. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

The issue of diminished responsibility will be considered by the judge at the hearing.

Ms Wild was studying at Liverpool Hope University, and had also been working at Matthew Moss High School in Rochdale at the time of her death, where she was formerly a pupil.

Her death, which happened in November last year, was the second tragedy suffered by her family in just over a decade.

School dinner lady Natasha Wild, 23, was found fatally injured at the home she shared with boyfriend Lloyd Brackenbury in Rochdale, Greater Manchester
A post-mortem found Ms Wild died of a single stab wound to the left lower neck. Her boyfriend Lloyd Brackenbury has been found guilty of her manslaughter

School dinner lady Natasha Wild, 23, was found fatally injured at the home she shared with boyfriend Lloyd Brackenbury in Rochdale, Greater Manchester

Her brother, Alan Wild, aged nine, Layla Wild, 23, believed to be her step-sister, and Layla's 11-month-old daughter, Courtney Nabb, died in a house fire in Rochdale, alongside family friend Cole Ridgway, two, in June 2005.

It's believed the blaze was started after an electrical fault involving the tumble dryer.

After Ms Wild's death in March this year her mother led the tributes, saying: 'Natasha was kindhearted and clever and was working towards her final year in university.

'This is a tragic waste of life of a lovely and beautiful daughter.'

Her sister said: 'My sister had a heart of gold.'

Matthew Moss School headteacher Mark Moorhouse said at the time: 'A fantastic and much loved member of our school community, both as a pupil and then as a member of the staff team. Natasha will be much missed.' 

The home the couple shared in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Brackenbury called an ambulance to their house and when paramedics arrived Ms Sykes was found fatally injured

The home the couple shared in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Brackenbury called an ambulance to their house and when paramedics arrived Ms Sykes was found fatally injured

Forensics officers at the scene of Natasha Wild's death. Ms Wild's mother paid tribute to the school dinner lady, saying: 'This is a tragic waste of life of a lovely and beautiful daughter'

Forensics officers at the scene of Natasha Wild's death. Ms Wild's mother paid tribute to the school dinner lady, saying: 'This is a tragic waste of life of a lovely and beautiful daughter'