ITV Coronation Street’s Fred Elliott star John Savident’s battle after being stabbed by an escort

Coronation Street’s John Savident faced a horrific ordeal after being stabbed in the neck by an escort in the early 2000s.

Earlier today, news broke that the soap legend, who played Fred Elliott, has died at the age of 86.

‘We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21st February.’ the statement from his agent read.

‘He was a much loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.’

Back in 2000, John was involved in a terrifying incident that saw him get stabbed after meeting an escort in a bar in Manchester.

Michael Smith was sent to prison for seven years after attacking John, which saw him lose two pints of blood.

The week-long trial at Manchester Crown Court revealed that Michael convinced John he was a drama student during their first meeting at Napoleon’s bar, where the actor previously visited as part of an event for World Aids Day.

At the married star’s flat, John and Michael spoke until the early hours of the next day.

During the court trial, John revealed that he had gone to his bedroom at his flat to charge his phone, but was pushed and shoved face down onto his bed at knifepoint by Michael.

He said at the time: ‘I suddenly felt somebody come up behind me and whizz me round so I was face down on the bed and then I felt a prick on my throat. He said something like “I bet you have never met a schizo before”, which was really quite frightening.’

After the star called the emergency services, he pleaded with them to keep the story out of the press, revealing that he plays ‘Fred Elliott in Coronation Street’.

At the trial, Judge Harold Singer said that John could’ve bled to death due to the knife hitting a major blood vessel.

After the attack, when John returned to filming at Coronation Street, he was seen on screen wearing a plaster on his neck, with Fred saying he had hurt himself in a ‘butchering accident’.