Man jailed after frenzied knife attack on teen who refused to pay his bus fare for him
A violent man who stabbed a teenager in a frenzied and unprovoked attack in broad daylight in the Black Country has been jailed.
Travon Poleate, 19, of no fixed abode, attacked the teenager with a knife in Great Barr after he followed him off a bus.
Poleate had boarded the number 28 bus on Aldridge Road around 1.30pm on Friday September 8.
Poleate got on as the bus stopped on Dyas Road and he approached the 17-year-old, who had just left college, to ask him to pay his fare.
After the teenager refused, Poleate shouted at the bus driver that he would stab the victim if he didn’t continue to drive the bus, showing the teenager his knife.
The teenager, scared he was about to be stabbed, got off the bus but Poleate also got off and followed him.
When Poleate caught up with him he demanded to know why he didn’t pay his bus fare. The teen tried to run away but Poleate chased after him, stabbing his thighs and legs. He also pulled him to the floor and stabbed the teenager in the face three times.
The teen tried to protect his face with his hands but Poleate continued to slash his hands and fingers before running off.
Passing drivers stopped to help the victim, who was taken to hospital to be treated for multiple stab wounds.
Poleate was caught after CCTV from the bus was shared on social media and he was identified by members of the public.
Shortly after police issued a wanted appeal, he was arrested from an address in Erdington, Birmingham, where a black knife was also recovered.
At Birmingham Crown Court yesterday Poleate, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife.
He was sentenced to nine years in prison.
DC Karen Kirman, from West Midlands Police CID, said: “This was a vicious and unprovoked attack on an innocent young man, resulting in serious injuries, which could have proved fatal.
“It is not clear why Poleate carried out this serious attack which left the teenager with permanent scarring both mentally and physically.
“This should serve as a strong warning that you can run but you can’t hide from the law. If you commit a serious offence we will go to whatever lengths to track you down."
