Teenager who stabbed victim in Wednesbury town centre violence avoids jail
A teenager who stabbed his victim in the neck in self-defence has avoided a custodial sentence.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, brandished the blade after being approached by a mob, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Police were called to Wednesbury town centre when the incident unfolded in broad daylight on December 5 last year.
The court heard how the defendant, from Wednesbury, fled the area after he was approached by three males due to arguments over ‘turf war’.
After fighting with them, he was followed into Market Place where he began waving the lock knife in an attempt to scare them off.
It resulted in the teenager stabbing another 17-year-old.
Trevor Meegan, prosecuting, said the defendant shouted racial abuse towards the Asian group.
He said: “He tried to defend himself with his fists before escaping by running away. He tried to scare them by showing them a knife.
"As a last resort he used the knife in an effort to defend himself. He accepts that he used the knife in this way, using excessive force.”
In a statement read out to the court, the witness said: “When I woke up in hospital after being stabbed I was straight away petrified as I could not breathe as there were tubes down my throat...but felt so lucky I was alive.”
Defending, Aneurin Brewer, added: “It can be seen on CCTV that he used the knife only as a last resort to scare them away.
“In desperation he ended up lashing out. He did not intend to cause injury.
“It was a very frightening attack. He is previously of good character and this is a young man determined to pursue a career as a mechanic.”
The teenager had previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
He was was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order for 24 months, a supervision programme and activity requirement and received a curfew for three months.
