Twelve-year sentence for 'frenzied' stabbing

A woman who carried out a "frenzied" knife attack on a former friend was today starting a 12-year prison term.

Denise Beckford, of Lye, stabbed 21-year-old Makela Patterson in the neck, chest and arm, following a row about money.

Bleeding "profusely" from her life-threatening injuries, Miss Patterson escaped to her sister's house nearby before collapsing.

Birmingham Crown Court heard yesterday that the dispute between the pair stemmed from Miss Patterson leaving her job at the Mish Mash restaurant in Winson Green, which was run by Beckford's uncle.

The victim had been in a dispute over her wearing a uniform and over wages, said prosecutor Mr John Riley.

In order to resolve the issue of the wages, Miss Patterson went to the restaurant on November 3 last year, where she had argued with the owner.

Following the incident, there was then a series of phone calls between Beckford and Miss Patterson and the pair agreed to meet to talk about what had happened earlier at the restaurant.

They met that evening in Archibald Road, Lozells, and in a scuffle Miss Patterson was stabbed four times.

The victim was then left to stagger to her sister's home in nearby Lozells Road, before she collapsed in the garden.

Mr Riley said since the attack, the victim had been scared to leave her home alone and would rarely go out at night. She still has scarring as a result of the knifing.

The court heard 32-year-old Beckford, of Talbot Street, was found guilty by a jury of wounding with intent but cleared of attempted murder.

Co-defendant Adele Johnson-Hector, 26, of Bryant Street, Winson Green, Birmingham, was cleared of the two charges.

Mr Gareth Evans, for Beckford, conceded that the attack was "frenzied". "She went to argue, got the worse end of the altercation and decided to use the knife," he added.

Jailing Beckford, Judge Robert Orme described the assault as an "impulsive knifing". He told the defendant: "Miss Patterson suffered considerable trauma as a result of the attack you carried out."

Det Chf Ins Martin Hurcombe, who investigated the stabbing, said today: "This was a serious wounding on a young woman and the the severity of the sentence reflects this. We hope will act as a deterrent against knife crime."