Man charged with murder in Stoke-on-Trent

Police were called to reports a man had been found unresponsive at a flat in Hanley

Author: Alex CornsPublished 17th Nov 2025

A man has been charged with the murder of another man in Stoke-on-Trent.

Barry Scott Johnson, 56, of Winsford, Cheshire, has been charged with murder.

It comes after police were called to a flat on Linfield Road, Hanley, at about 9.30pm on Wednesday (12 November) following a report that a man had been found unresponsive inside.

The man - who police have now named as 55-year-old Stephen Lovatt - was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are asking anyone with information that can assist their investigation to come forward.

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