Video captures couple hand in hand before 'jealous' attacker stabs them (2025)

Viet Quoc Tran, 22, travelled north from London to carry out the horrific attack in Manchester city centre

Video released by the police shows a couple hand-in-hand after a romantic dinner date oblivious to the 'jealous' masked obsessive lurking behind them - moments later their stalker stabs them both.

Viet Quoc Tran, 22, who watched Tristan Tate videos and had a fear of rejection, is then captured running away from the scene of the horrific attack in Manchester city centre. His victims are still recovering from their emotional and physical injuries.

A court heard he attacked his aunt and her new partner after becoming 'jealous' of her new relationship. After eavesdropping on their conversation, hacking into her phone, and tracking her using an app, he got the train from London to Manchester to follow them after they had been on a date.

As they strolled hand-in-hand through the city centre, he sprayed the man with UV spray and then stabbed him in the chest. His aunt tried to wrestle his balaclava from his face but she was also stabbed to the leg.

Tran, a former accountancy and financing student, has now been jailed after admitting wounding. Manchester Crown Court heard that he had moved in with his aunt in 2023 to help with his career prospects. She had previously been married to his uncle but in July last year she began dating a new partner.

'Plainly jealous' Tran hacked into her social media accounts, and messaged her new partner posing as his aunt. “He wrote that she wasn’t interested in a relationship and she had a boyfriend before asking him to delete the conversation,” said prosecutor Becky Jane.

“He also appeared to draft a message purporting to be from her partner to bring an end to their relationship.”

Whilst contemplating 'getting revenge', he searched an AI site about Tristan Tate, a social media influencer accused of 'ripe misogyny', Ms Jane said. “In one such video Tristan Tate is telling a story of when he took eleven years to 'get revenge' on a woman,” she added.

Tran also used an app called 'Life360' to track his aunt’s location, but was unable to do so after July 27, 2024. At around the same time, he searched for images of a black balaclava and UV defence spray.

On July 30 he sent a message to his auntie which read: “Stay silent. Don’t reply. I will show you one day who I am.” In a further message, he said: “Wanna see the real V? You got him.”

The woman and her partner planned to go out for a meal at Cibo, in Manchester city centre, for around 9pm on August 3. Tran had ‘eavesdropped’ the conversation and made a note in his phone.

He also made searches for the restaurant and paid a company $300 to hack into a WhatsApp account, but it was unsuccessful as it proved to be a scam.

“The defendant had become deeply, obsessively unhappy about her relationship and began formulating plans to attack her,” said Ms Jane. “Finding out about dinner plans, the prosecution say the defendant used that opportunity to make good those plans to show his real self to her.”

Tran got a train from London to Manchester Piccadilly before tracking the couple as they went for a meal, a drink in a bar and then a walk along Bridgewater canal where he attacked. He sprayed the man with the UV paint before stabbing him in the chest with a wartime bayonet that was given as a gift by his aunt.

The woman recalled seeing a man dressed in black wearing a balaclava moving quickly behind them before attacking her partner. She tried to grab his balaclava causing both to fall and her being stabbed in the fracas.

As Tran fled dumping his balaclava and knife, members of the public came to help and emergency services were called. He got on a train back to London and was arrested days later.

Both victims were taken to hospital. He was treated for a stab wound to his chest which caused damage to his lung, liver and diaphragm and was discharged after three weeks. She was treated for a stab wound to her thigh.

In a statement, the woman said it had been the most ‘traumatic and terrifying moment of her life’. “I didn’t realise something so bad could happen to me, especially by someone I know,” she said.

She said she was worried about her safety and her trust has been shattered leaving her anxious to go out. “This experience has left me with a deep sense of loss - it has changed me,” she added.

Her partner said he ‘genuinely believed I was going to die’. “I never had to contemplate a situation where my children would grow up without a father. I have been unable to relax, I’m nervous and agitated in public.

“I do not know if I will ever feel completely safe. I fear the day the man will be released from prison.”

Mark Shanks, defending, said Tran had moved to the UK from Vietnam. His dad had died at a young age and he was raised by his grandmother. He has issues with ‘abandonment and fear of rejection’, the barrister said.

Whilst living with his aunt he broke his ankle whilst ice skating and was taken to hospital. His aunt had supported him and they became close before he moved back to London.

“He felt rejection by moving away, her distancing himself from him and starting a new relationship. He accepts he committed the offence,” he said.

Jailing Tran, Judge Peter Horgan said: “It is clear you experienced feelings of jealousy, abandonment and rejection. There was a sense of entitlement and jealousy before carrying out retribution.”

Tran, of no fixed abode pleaded guilty to wounding (section 20) and wounding with intent (section 18) and was jailed for an extended term of 13 years, comprising 10 years in prison and three years on licence. He must serve two thirds of the 10 year term before he will be considered for release by the Parole Board.

He was also made subject of a restraining order banning contact with both victims indefinitely.

After the hearing, Detective Constable Sam Cullen said: “Since we became aware of this shocking incident which could have had fatal consequences, we were determined to find and track down the person responsible.

“It is clear to see from the evidence we uncovered that Tran knew exactly what he was going to do on that through pure jealousy. I’m pleased we were able to support the victims through the prosecution to give them justice as it has been an extremely tough time that they have had to deal with, the only positive being they have had each other to get through this.

“Stalking and harassment on any level should not be tolerated and would urge any other victims to come forward and report it, as we will listen and support you through the circumstances you find yourself in.”