Man who stabbed a father-to-be to demise after a ‘minor’ row over an e-bike has been jailed

A man who fatally stabbed a dad-to-be after an ‘entirely avoidable’ argument over an e-bike has been jailed. 

Lloyd Velasquez, 34, and an unnamed female friend of his travelled to the home of Ben Ruddock, 20, in Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, on 1 May 2024 to recover an e-bike which had been stolen from someone they knew. 

After arriving at the property at around 7:15pm that night, Mr Velasquez and Ruddock became embroiled in a ‘minor’ argument but the 34-year-old visitor was able to retrieve the e-bike before leaving with his friend. 

A short time later, however, Chester Crown Court heard that the anonymous female was sent ‘threatening’ voice notes by Ruddock telling Mr Velasquez to meet him in a local park. 

While driving along Hollybush Way, Ellesmere Port, Mr Velasquez spotted Ruddock with two other men on the side of the road and hopped out of his vehicle to confront the 20-year-old.

But after Ruddock brandished a knife, which a court heard he had taken from a barbecue set, Mr Velasquez retreated to his car. 

Within just minutes, however, after another spree of threatening voice notes from Ruddock, Mr Velasquez encountered the three men on the nearby Summertrees Road.

Once again, the driver confronted Ruddock who this time produced his knife and stabbed Mr Velasquez before fleeing back to his home, where he hid the weapon in the garden. 

Ben Ruddock (pictured) was found guilty of manslaughter at Chester Crown Court and sentenced to 13 years in prison

Lloyd Velasquez (pictured) was fatally stabbed on 1 May last year in the Ellesmere Port area of Cheshire

After spotting Ruddock with two men on Summertrees Road, Mr Velasquez confronted them and was fatally stabbed

The victim, who had been expecting a baby at the time, was taken to a local hospital but unfortunately succumbed to a fatal stab wound to the chest. 

His baby boy was born just nine weeks later.

After changing his blood-stained clothes at another property, Ruddock fled to a house in the Merseyside area. 

Police raided Ruddock’s home and retrieved the knife used to kill Mr Velasquez before locating the criminal at the Merseyside address. He was arrested in the early hours of 2 May last year.

Ruddock was this week found guilty of manslaughter at Chester Crown Court and sentenced to 13 years in jail. The two men who were with him on the day of the crime were initially arrested but later released with no further action taken against them. 

Detective Inspector Andrea Price said that Mr Velasquez’s death stemmed from an ‘entirely avoidable’ argument. 

‘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,’ she said.

‘This incident was entirely avoidable. Ruddock chose to arm himself with a knife and made continued threats towards Lloyd. 

Mr Velasquez was a dad-to-be at the time of his death. His baby boy was born just nine weeks later

‘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.  

‘Instead of owning up to what he had done, Ruddock chose to flee Cheshire. Thankfully he was later arrested in Merseyside and now, as a result of our investigation and the evidence against him, he has been jailed for the manslaughter of Lloyd. Our thoughts remain with Lloyd’s family and friends at this difficult time.’

Following his death, Mr Velasquez’s family paid tribute to the ‘much-loved’ dad-to-be. 

His mother said: ‘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.

‘From Lloyd’s baby’s point of view, justice will never be served. Lloyd is not able to speak for himself, and sadly two lives have been ruined as the result of Ben Ruddock’s horrific actions.’

In a statement, Mr Velasquez’s father thanked everyone who helped to bring Ruddock to justice. 

‘The family would like to thank everyone involved regarding the investigation into the death of Lloyd Velasquez,’ he said.

‘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.’