THE FAMILY of a man who was stabbed to death by his ex-girlfriend’s new partner have paid tribute to him as court proceedings came to an end.

Mark Fisher was brutally murdered by Joseph Hindle in January of 2020, leaving his family ‘broken-hearted’ and living through their worst nightmare.

On Friday, Hindle was ordered to spend life with a minimum of 27 years behind bars after a jury found him guilty of murder, while he girlfriend and Mr Fisher’s ex-partner Louise Hindle was given a total sentence of 18 years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Fisher’s mother, sisters and wider family have now paid loving tribute to him.

A family statement reads: “As a family we would like to pay tribute to Mark. Mark was a dear son, brother and father and he will be missed by all his family.

“What happened to him has broken all our hearts and having to sit in court and listen to every detail has been our family’s worst nightmare.

“We are pleased with the sentences that have been handed down to both Joseph Hindle and Louise Henwood and although this will not bring Mark back it will at least give us come closure.

“We would also like to thank the Police and Prosecution Team for all their help and support throughout this case.”

Speaking after sentencing concluded, Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “Hindle and Henwood plotted to rob Mr Fisher, they attended his home address in the early hours of 19th January but we’re unable to gain entry.

“Undeterred by this the pair re-attended Mr Fisher’s home address some hours later. Henwood goaded Hindle into carrying out the robbery and waited in a nearby alleyway.

“Hindle attacked Mr Fisher in his home address, he unleashed extreme violence that was far in excess of anything needed to carry out a robbery. There can be no doubt that the intention was to do him really serious injury which resulted in Mr Fisher’s death from multiple stab wounds.

“I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the facts in this case and I welcome the sentence, which I hope will at least give Mr Fisher’s loved ones some consolation that justice has been served.”

Read our full court report here.