Vincent Sparkes Sentenced to Life for Murder of Neil Bambrick
A man from Swindon has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering Neil Bambrick, who died from a fatal stab wound during a street altercation in 2022.
Vincent Sparkes, 44, of Station Road, was found guilty at Bristol Crown Court of killing 41-year-old Bambrick after a dispute on Broad Street, Swindon, on July 11. The attack occurred when Sparkes headbutted Bambrick and then used a knife to stab him in the chest. Despite attempts to save him, Bambrick was declared dead at the hospital the following morning.
Sparkes initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming the stabbing was an accident. However, the jury found him guilty of murder, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 17-and-a-half years.
Following the attack, Sparkes was quickly apprehended at a friend’s house and arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. After Bambrick’s death, the charge was upgraded to murder.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker, who led the investigation, emphasized the devastating consequences of carrying knives. He said Sparkes’ “split-second decision” to use a weapon during the altercation ultimately cost Bambrick his life. Walker also warned the public about the dangers of carrying knives and the irreversible consequences such actions can lead to.
As part of a broader effort to reduce knife crime, Swindon has implemented a knife surrender scheme with five permanent bins for the anonymous disposal of knives, highlighting ongoing local efforts to tackle the issue.
