A jealous and "demonic" man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death after wrongly believing she was with his best friend has been jailed.
Abid Mahmood, 35, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility after Tamby Dowling died from multiple stab wounds.
Mahmood of Cambridge Street, Oldham, received a lifetime hybrid hospital order today at Manchester Crown Court having admitted the charge at an earlier hearing, and will serve a minimum of 10 years.
He also admitted section 18 assault on a 16-year-old girl where he was ordered to serve six years concurrently.
Officers were first called to Water Mill Avenue, Oldham, at about 7pm on November 8, 2021 to reports of a stabbing.
Emergency services swarmed the scene and found two people with stab injuries – Ms Dowling, 36, and a 16-year-old girl.
Mahmood had turned up unannounced and forced his way into the address before punching Ms Dowling and pulling out a large knife and stabbing her as she lay defenceless on the floor.
She was pronounced dead at the scene while the teenage girl was treated in hospital for leg injuries.
After the attack, Mahmood, who has a history of mental health issues, handed himself into police with the knife in his waistband.
It was heard in court that he told an officer that he had felt "like killing someone". Mahmood's face was described as being "demonic" at the time.
He was later charged over Ms Dowling’s death with a post-mortem exam giving the victim’s cause of death is as multiple stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.
Ms Dowling was stabbed eight times with some of the wounds being up to 18cm deep and one blow severing part of her heart.
At the time of her death, her family paid a moving tribute and said: "She was outgoing, kind-hearted, generous, and had time for everyone. Her door was always open, her home was filled with visitors, and her kettle was always just boiled.
"Tamby will leave a huge hole and massive impact on all the family. She touched the lives of countless people - the hole she has left will never be filled and our hearts are broken."
Senior Investigating Officer Duncan Thorpe, of Greater Manchester Police's Serious Crime Division, said: "Our thoughts are with Tamby's family and friends, and can only hope today's sentence brings some comfort to them.
"This is a horrific example of violence against women and girls and we are absolutely committed to tackling violence against women and girls - if anyone thinks they are in danger or at the risk of violence, they should always call the police."
