A teenager who stabbed a man in the leg outside a Luton shop was jailed for two years and nine months on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was with a group of others in the precinct on Farley Hill in the early evening on Saturday, October 9, 2021.
The victim, who was trying to enter the Nisa Local store, when he became involved in a confrontation with the group.
He asked to be let through to the off licence, but was told by the youth to “f… off”.
The two ran at each other and the youth, who had been drinking brandy, pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the thigh.
Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann told Luton Crown Court he spent a day and a half in hospital and was off work for two and a half months.
He said: “He suffered scarring and pain. The leg is an extremely dangerous place to stab someone. He needed surgery to seal his artery.”
In a victim personal statement the man said his mental health has suffered.
He has gone for counselling and is thinking of moving away from Bedfordshire.
The Luton youth appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and having a blade.
He had five previous convictions for seven offences. These including two woundings – one where the victim suffered a broken jaw and the other where he received life-threatening injuries.
Alex Kettle-Williams, defending, said the youth told her: “It was stupid. I don’t know why I did it. I am just really sorry.”
She said he, who was on remand in Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution, had been assaulted whilst being held in custody.
Judge Karen Walden-Smith told him: “You have an appalling record of violence.”
She went on: “If you cause further harm to people you will spend more time in prison.”
