A man who launched a knife attack during a Rum Punch event at the Marsh Farm Community Centre in Luton was jailed on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, for six years four months.
Josiah Woodfinch, 40, who did not know the victim had accused of taking his bank card while they were at the bar.
When a fight broke out between a friend of Woodfinch and the 49-year-old man, he produced a blade and stabbed him from behind, Luton Crown Court was told.
Prosecutor Julian Jones said the victim received six stab wounds in the back. Others at the event separated the men.
Woodfinch fled the scene.
Woodfinch, now of no fixed address, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing a blade.
Mr Jones said the event began on the evening of Friday, April 28, 2023, and went on into the next morning.
Woodfinch had talked to the victim the bar, although they did not know each other.
At twenty two minutes past midnight Woodfinch could not find his bank card and pointed at the victim, suggesting he had stolen it.
The victim denied talking the card. At 00.34 Woodfinch’s friend started fighting with the man before Woodfinch arrived at attacked him.
Others attending the event separated the men with the victim taking to hospital where, said Mr Jones, he received: “potentially life-saving surgery.”
In a victim statement the man said: “ I am 49. I have never had any issues with anyone.
This incident has frightened me. I am scared of other people.” Defending, Laban Leake said Woodfinch had written a letter to the man saying he was “truly sorry” and expressed “deep remorse.”
He wrote: “I cannot be sorry enough for what I have done to that man. It ruined everything I have done in my life.”
He said Woodfinch, a father of two, had a masters degree in science and had been involved in community work across Marsh Farm.
He has been involved youth work, art projects t schools and improving bleak and graffiti-covered environments.
Mr Leake said: “He caused grave injuries for what he could not be sorry enough.”
In the day he said Woodfinch had been in London, work had been going well for him and he ended up buying people drinks at the Community Centre.
“Nobody knows what triggered the event,” he said.
Woodfinch has struggled with depression and anxiety and whilst in custody had made attempts to take his life.
Jailing him, Recorder Stephen Lennard said Woodfinch had caused a “grave injury.”
He said: “He (the victim) received treatment and surgery for what could have been life-threatening injuries.
Thankfully he survived and was discharged a few days later.”
The judge said he accepted the offences were out of character and that Woodfinch was a family man who as an “atypical defendant.”
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