A man in his 60s remains in hospital after being found stabbed on a bench near Castle Golf; Staffordshire Police are searching for a suspect and asking for public assistance
The town of Stafford has been shaken after a man in his 60s was discovered with serious stab wounds on a public footpath close to the castle and golf course. Emergency services were alerted at 7pm on Thursday 14 May when a member of the public found the injured man slumped on a bench near Newport Road and the Castle Golf and Leisure grounds.
He was promptly treated at the scene and taken to hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
The response involved several specialist units: officers from Staffordshire Police, crews from the West Midlands Ambulance Service, a MERIT trauma doctor team working alongside a critical care paramedic, and support from the Midlands Air Ambulance.
The coordinated arrival of land and air assets underscores how quickly services mobilised after the 7pm call. Local residents and club staff have been left stunned and the golf course has been closed while inquiries continue.
The incident and emergency response
Police have said the victim was walking from Redgrave Drive towards Stafford Castle on a public footpath through the golf course when an unknown man approached from behind and stabbed him. The victim was found by a passer-by who raised the alarm. On arrival, paramedics delivered advanced trauma care before transferring the man to hospital. The ambulance service confirmed that a full trauma response was deployed, including a MERIT team — an emergency response bundle that pairs critical-care clinicians with paramedics for life-threatening injuries.
Investigation and search for the suspect
Officers launched a large-scale manhunt immediately after the attack. Detectives are conducting extensive enquiries, reviewing CCTV and conducting house-to-house visits in the Castlefields area. The hunt has been supported by drone teams and the National Police Air Service helicopter, which are being used to scan local routes and green spaces for the suspect. Police described the assailant as a man in his mid to late 20s, of average build, wearing dark clothing and potentially of Eastern European heritage.
Suspect description and evidence
The suspect profile is being circulated to help trace his movements before and after the assault. Officers have asked anyone who was in the Castlefields area between 5pm and 8pm on Thursday 14 May to come forward, especially if they have dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage. The police have created a dedicated public portal to collect tips and footage, and detectives continue to piece together the timeline from witnesses and recording devices.
How to report information
People with information are asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 641 of May 14, or to use the force’s online live chat. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The force has emphasised its ongoing visible patrols to reassure the community while inquiries progress at pace.
Community reaction and local impact
Neighbours described the area around the golf course and castle as usually quiet and popular with walkers. Residents told reporters they were shocked by the violence in what they considered a peaceful neighbourhood. The golf club said staff and members are coping but are “obviously shocked” and that the course would remain closed while officers complete their scene work. Local policing commanders have expressed gratitude to members of the public who have already provided information and reiterated that enquiries will continue until the suspect is located.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour or has footage relevant to the assault is urged to get in touch. The combination of community appeals, technological search methods and targeted patrols represents the current strategy to bring the assailant to justice and to support the victim’s family while the investigation continues.
