Passer-by saves life of knife victim stabbed in face and chest

Wayne Hudson leapt into action after Lee Giles was knifed in the chest during a fracas in the flat opposite his home, revealed Miss Raj Punia, prosecuting.

He provided emergency first aid until paramedics arrived and a judge concluded: "Without that intervention Mr Giles may well have died."

The victim was rushed to hospital where he was treated in intensive care for three days after being wounded by 35-year-old Philip Grainger, a tenant on another floor at the premises in Bournebrook Crescent, Halesowen, the court was told.

The attacker was known as the 'local drunk' and blamed people who lived at the flat where the stabbing took place for taunts and bullying, it was said in court.

He kicked down the door of the address - that was empty at the time - and trashed it after drinking eight cans of lager, continued the prosecutor.

He left a note and was later involved in a row with two of the occupants when they questioned him about the damage.

Unknown to them he picked up a kitchen knife and followed the pair to their flat where Giles, a visitor, was alone in the kitchen when the attacker walked in, the court heard.

Miss Punia continued: "The defendant swung the knife towards Mr Giles, who tried to swipe him off his feet with his leg but immediately realised he was bleeding heavily from a chest wound.

"He thought he was going to die.

"That is when Mr Hudson, who lives opposite put his training as an army medic into operation, provided emergency first aid."

The knife was later found on the kitchen floor.

The victim was taken to hospital with a collapsed left lung and a wound at least six centimetre deep in his chest that required four days hospital treatment, three of which were in the intensive care unit, it was said.

He said later: "I am genuinely lucky to be alive and am just grateful to those who were there to save me."

Police found the defendant slumped drunk in his flat. He told officers afterwards: "If he got stabbed he deserved it."

Mr Kevin Grego, defending, said: "He was regarded as the local drunk and was subjected to verbal taunts and bullying. No doubt, in drink, he had spent too long considering his woes on this occasion. This was a one blow assault."

Grainger pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on July 22 last year and was jailed for eight years by Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey, who told him: "Whatever you perception was, your behaviour was inexcusable. I do not accept there was provocation. You simply went to get what you thought was revenge and whoever was there would do.

"Without the intervention of Mr Hudson, Mr Giles may well have died. Both he and you are lucky he survived."