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The mother of a man who was allegedly stabbed to death by his partner told a jury the couple would “bicker a lot”

Charlie Stevenson, 21, is alleged to have deliberately stabbed Christopher Higgs, also 21, with a kitchen knife at her home in Portland Street, Boston.

Mr Higgs, from Spalding, was found with a single stab wound to his heart after Ms Stevenson called the ambulance service to her property on July 14.

His mother, Jody Manchester, today (Tuesday) gave evidence from the witness box at Lincoln Crown Court.

Police investigating an alleged murder at the property on Portland Street, Boston. | Photo: David Dawson

She told the jury Christopher had an older brother called Charlie, and two sisters called Paris and Paige.

He grew up in Surrey, and was diagnosed with ADHD and then autism when he was 12.

“He relied very heavily on routine, things could not change,” Ms Manchester added. “He was also fussy about clothes and food.”

The jury heard Christopher was taken into care at the age of 12, but still had regular contact with his mother, seeing her six times a year.

Mr Higgs later decided to return to his family, and undertook a carpentry course, before meeting Ms Stevenson in 2018.

Officers in boiler suits at the scene of the incident. | Photo: David Dawson

Ms Manchester said: “Sometimes they were alright, but they did bicker a lot.”

Asked by prosecution barrister Christopher Donnellan QC, if she saw injuries to Christopher during his time with Charlie, Ms Manchester replied: “Yes.”

When asked by Mr Donnellan what the injuries were, Ms Manchester stated: “Black eyes, scratches down his neck, and a lot of the time his clothes were ripped.”

Ms Manchester said she had regular conversations with the couple on Facetime after they had a baby.

But Ms Manchester told the jury she did witness one incident at her home in Surrey where Ms Stevenson punched Christopher who responded by pulling her hair.

Ms Manchester said she told Christopher “to let go”, and Ms Stevenson picked up a kitchen dish which was taken off her by one of Christopher’s sisters.

The jury heard Mr Higgs was moving backwards and forwards from Surrey to his brother’s home in Spalding, while Ms Stevenson and their child were living in Boston.

Ms Manchester admitted she was aware Christopher should not have been staying at the house in Portland Street because of a bail condition from an incident involving Ms Stevenson.

The defence argue Mr Higgs could also be violent towards Ms Stevenson.

Under cross-examination from James Newtown-Price QC, defending Ms Stevenson, Ms Manchester replied: “I have never seen it, but it is possible.”

Ms Manchester admitted she was aware of occasions where Mr Higgs was alleged to have assaulted Ms Stevenson.

She accepted there was also one occasion where she had to call the police after Mr Higgs became violent towards her partner.

When asked about the level of violence between the couple, Ms Manchester replied: “It was equal.”

She also accepted Mr Higgs would regularly use cannabis.

Charlie Stevenson, 21, of Portland Street, Boston, denies murder on July 14, 2021. The trial continues.

Read more from the trial:

• Boston mum accused of murder tells jury her partner ‘stabbed himself’
• Lincolnshire man, 21, died after girlfriend ‘stabbed him in the heart’ with kitchen knife
• Trial set for woman accused of stabbing ex to death

A double murder suspect tried to get in a farm manager’s car and asked police to shoot him after assaulting an off-duty police officer, a jury heard on Tuesday.

Daniel Boulton, 30, was seen at Hallington House Farm, near Louth, just before midday on June 1.

A jury at Lincoln Crown Court heard Boulton had run away from PC Stephen Dennis who had tried to detain him while walking his dog near Hubbard’s Hills in Louth.

The site of Daniel Boulton’s arrest at Hubbard’s Hills in Louth. | Photo: Jon Aron

Boulton had spent the night in a nearby cottage after brutally stabbing to death his former partner Bethany Vincent, and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson, it is alleged.

The jury heard farm manager Greta Roberts was driving through the property when she noticed a man with a blue rope around his neck run out from the side of the silage store.

Mrs Roberts said she realised the man was probably the suspect wanted by police and instinctively locked her vehicle as he came towards her car and tried the door handle.

Double murder suspect Daniel Boulton resisted arrest following a manhunt in Louth | Photo: BBC

“I put my foot down and drove away,” Mrs Roberts said in her statement which was read out in court.

The jury heard Boulton encouraged armed officers who arrived at the scene to shoot him but he was tasered and held on the ground.

A silver kitchen knife was taken from him, and he was also found to have two skateboard type pads on his knees.

Flowers, candles and photographs were laid by a tree as a vigil was held in memory of alleged Louth murder victims Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old son Darren Henson. | Photo: Graeme Whitworth

Boulton made no comment when he was arrested on suspicion of the two murders and assaulting PC Dennis.

The court heard Boulton was transported to Skegness Police Station and taken into custody where he made several comments to an officer observing him.

Boulton asked the officer: “Does this happen often, when people kill their girlfriend?”

He also told the officer he had a baby.

A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money towards the funerals of Louth stabbing victims Bethany Vincent and Darren Henson.

Boulton, 30, of Alexandra Road, Skegness, admits the manslaughter of his former girlfriend Bethany Vincent and her nine-year-old Darren Henson, but denies their murder.

Ms Vincent and Darren, known to his family as DJ, were both found stabbed to death at their home in High Holme Road, Louth, shortly after 8pm on May 31.

Read more from the trial:

• Mum and son stabbed in heart by Louth murder accused, court hears
• Louth boy enjoyed bedtime chat with grandma before being stabbed to death
• Daniel Boulton’s 28 mile trek before alleged murder of ex-partner and her son, 9
• Daniel Boulton admits manslaughter in Louth mum and son murder trial
• Louth double murder suspect stabbed off-duty policeman after killings
• Jury sworn in for Louth double murder trial

Scrutiny councillors at East Lindsey District Council have raised concerns for local businesses and a lack of investment away from the coast as they backed a 3.26% council tax increase.

The authority’s Overview Committee on Tuesday, examined plans for a £4.95 council tax increase for 2022/23. It will see a Band D property pay £156.69 to the council for the year.

Bosses hope the measures will bring in an extra £336,839 to the authority which has efficiency saving requirements of £685,000.

Executive board member for finance Councillor Richard Fry told the committee: “The 2022/23 is balanced and retains our current baseline level of services.

“This year, with all the amalgamations and changes in structure it’s been very difficult to deliver the budget.

“There are many councils that would give their right teeth to deliver a budget of this character.”

However, Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders said she had spoken to Louth businesses and said there was “an awful lot of gloom at the moment”.

“My concern is that a lot of businesses are going to be struggling and I wondered if we could put out a kind message for how the council will support them?” she said.

She later added: “I’m a bit disappointed if you live inland, there seems to be an awful lot of huge investment going into the coast.

“It does get a bit depressing when you read all these huge capital investments and… what do we tell our residents really, it is difficult isn’t it?”

Officers told councillors there was still support for businesses including relief for certain sectors and grants and business rates relief.

No comment was made from bosses on the location of capital investments.

In his report, Councillor Fry said positive news included investment in a new “Mobile Pride Team” to tackle grot spots with extra support such as new staff and equipment and further development of the council’s Fairfield vehicle servicing facility.

The council will also be looking to generate income through commercial activities activities – including a “flagship development in Chapel St Leonards” – however, the report noted further uncertainty due to COVID.

“Notable risks” included an 8% increase in the levy required by Internal Drainage Boards due to restrictions on the use of red diesel, service growth cost pressures, issues around the disposal of assets such as Tedder hall and Skegness Town Hall and difficulties around business rates.

Officers said they were worried about the future of local funding and what it would look like. They said a three year settlement would have been a relief to many authorities.

Councillors praised the balanced budget but said they wanted to have more input at an earlier stage. They said some services, including planning enforcement teams, were “creaking” and needed some further investments.

Councillor Edward Mossop said: “I can’t criticise a balanced budget, well done for doing that in what have been a very difficult couple of years, but it’s almost a bit late to put forward any changes because we’re going so rapidly.”

Councillors were also told of a “significant drop in income” with the Kingfisher Caravan Park which is in the middle of a court action from residents who disagree with the council’s decision to force caravans older than 25 years off the site.

The report estimated an £854,000 drop in fees and charges for the site going into next year, with income dropping from £1,874,000 to £1,020,000.

The report to the committee said the latest work to make savings with Boston Borough and South Holland District Councils as part of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership and the latest Towns Fund bid had resulted in almost £50 million being invested into the district.