Thomas Beard used a potato peeler to stab a 65-year-old man who had sexually propositioned him.
Beard, 21, had agreed to go back to the Leighton Buzzard man’s studio flat on the promise of free alcohol.
When he had had enough of the man’s pestering he stabbed him and then videoed the injured man telling him: “You have been shanked.”
Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann told Luton Crown Court on Thursday, July 1, 2021, that the 65-year-old had been making sexually inappropriate comments.
Despite this the ‘lure of free alcohol’ led him to go back home with him on a bus. He went on: “The victim was in a difficult position. He was in the company of a much larger, older man who would not take ‘no’ for an answer.
“The defendant accepts he took possession of a potato peeler half an hour before he used it.
“He decided enough was enough and took it out. The victim went towards the defendant to punch him. He (Beard) accepts he delivered three rights hooks towards the victim.
“He said the first two missed, but he connected with the third.”
He caused a minor injury to an artery and a serious wound to the face. After the stabbing Beard videoed the victim and was recorded saying; “How do you feel?
You have been shanked”, “That was funny as f…”, and “He deserved it.”
Mr Weidmann said: “There was a loss of temper, he carried out the stabbing with some severe provocation after deeply inappropriate conduct.”
Beard of Dunstable Road, Luton appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to wounding the victim with intent and having a bladed article on 25 January.
Defending, Nathaniel Wade said the victim was a much older, larger man. He said there was a pair of handcuffs in the studio flat.
He said the victim had been discharged from hospital the next day, having received five internal stitches and seven external ones. Mr Wade said Beard had a troubled background and asked for credit for his guilty plea.
A psychological report had been prepared on behalf of Beard, who has severe depression and anxiety. Judge Rebecca Herbert told him: “This is a very worrying case. It is a particularly unusual case.
“He (the victim) targeted you to stay in his home in Leighton Buzzard. He had shocking ulterior motives. He made a number of inappropriate physical and verbal approaches and he was persistent.
She said when he took the video he was agitated and angry at what had happened to him. The judge told him: “You were the victim of serious provocation and deeply inappropriate conduct.”
He was sentenced to three years in prison.
