Man, 64, jailed for 15 years following stabbing at Babs Food & Wine in Aylesbury
A 64 year old man, of no fixed abode, has been jailed after stabbing a man in the neck in an unprovoked assault in Aylesbury.
The man was sentenced on Monday 14th September 2015 at Reading Crown Court to 15 years’ imprisonment with a five year extension period after being convicted of Section 18 GBH wounding with intent.
He was found guilty of the offence by jury following a five-day trial at Reading Crown Court on Monday 11th May 2015. He was acquitted of one count of attempted murder.
On Monday 8th September 2014 the convicted man purchased a knife from a hardware shop in Aylesbury. At 2.20pm on the same day he entered Babs Food & Wine store in Buckingham Street where he asked the victim, a 25 year old shop assistant, for assistance.
While the shop assistant was leaning forwards to help, the convicted man stabbed him the neck before leaving the shop.
The offender was arrested on the same day and charged with the offence on Wednesday 10th September 2014.
Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Mark Glover, from Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime unit, said: ‘[The convicted man] stabbed [the shop assistant], who he had never met before, in a short, violent and unprovoked attack in a shop in Aylesbury.
I would like to thank local people in Aylesbury for their patience while we conducted the investigation and I would like to reassure people within the community that incidents of this nature are extremely rare. However when they do occur Thames Valley Police makes every effort to conduct a thorough investigation and to bring perpetrators to justice, as we have done in this case with [the convicted man].
The events of Monday 8th September 2014 resulted in [the shop assistant] sustaining injuries which will forever affect his life and the quality of life of his family due to the ongoing care he requires.
The court recognised what a dangerous offender [the convicted man] is. I hope today’s sentence will enable [the shop assistant] and his family to move on to the next chapter of their lives, although I am sure the lasting physical and emotional impact of this attack will never leave them.‘
Adrian Foster, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: ‘This case involved the stabbing of a 25 year old man in Aylesbury on Monday 8th September 2014, causing severe, life threatening injuries and extreme loss of blood, which could have had far worse consequences.
[The convicted man] purchased a kitchen knife from a nearby shop, and about three hours later, entered the convenience store and engaged the victim in conversation before brutally plunging the knife into the side of the victim’s neck and then leaving the store. The prompt actions of two young women, who entered the shop as [the convicted man] was leaving, resulted in the victim receiving swift medical attention.
[The convicted man] answered ‘no comment’ in three police interviews and denied any wrongdoing, but was found guilty, by a jury, of wounding with intent on Monday 11th May 2015 after a five-day trial despite his denials. He was found not guilty of attempted murder.
We have worked closely with Thames Valley Police since this investigation was launched and as a result of the hard work and diligence of the prosecution team, a just outcome has been achieved.
This case represents a tragedy for the victim, and his family, who are devastated by his life changing injuries and the effect they are having on his quality of life. Understandably, the events on that day have had a significant impact on the victim both physically and psychologically.
I hope that the conviction and today’s sentence will in some way help him to come to terms with the horrifying events with the knowledge that the man that subjected him to his terrible ordeal has been brought to justice. Our thoughts are very much with him and his family at this time.‘
