Teenager has sentence REDUCED despite repeatedly stabbing fellow teen with a Rambo-style knife
A teenager who attacked his victim with a 'fearsome' Rambo-style knife in West Bromwich has been warned to grow up by top judges as they cut his sentence.
The 17-year-old got four-and-a-half years in a young offender institution at Wolverhampton Crown Court on September 26 last year.
He was in a McDonald's branch in West Bromwich High Street with some friends in October 2016, when he and the teenage victim made 'eye contact'.
Then 16, he asked the victim if he had a problem, and was asked the same in reply, Sir Kenneth Parker told London's Appeal Court.
He then took off his expensive coat and jumped up and swung a punch at the victim, which missed, before raising a chair.
Staff at the fast food chain managed to defuse the situation and he left, but returned soon afterwards.
When the victim and his friends started to leave, he went off for a second time – but this time returned brandishing a knife.
He stabbed out at the victim with a number of thrusts, at least two of which caught him, and said 'no one f****with me'.
Zombie knife
The weapon was described as a Rambo, zombie or commando-style knife, said the judge.
The 17-year-old was convicted of wounding with intent and admitted having an offensive weapon.
During his trial, he said he 'could not just ignore what he (the victim) had done to me'.
This was despite the victim having 'done precious little' to him, said the judge who sentenced him.
He had been part of a group robbery in which a victim had his mobile phone stolen at the same branch of McDonald's the previous day.
He also had convictions for battery, the court heard.
Family support
But his lawyers argued that his sentence was far too harsh and should be cut.
Sir Kenneth referred to the 'fearsome nature of the weapon' involved.
But he said the teenager 'seems finally to have recognised that his conduct, and indeed his whole value system, was fundamentally flawed'.
He has 'very strong family support' and it was 'possible to take a more favourable view of the future outcome' for him.
The judge, sitting with Lord Justice Irwin and Judge David Aubrey QC, reduced his sentence to three-and-a-half years.
Addressing the teenager – who cannot be identified for legal reasons – Lord Justice Irwin said: "We have taken a year off your sentence.
"When you are released, you will have to demonstrate that you have grown up because no court in future will give you another chance."
