A man who stabbed a former friend three times while queuing inside a town centre Boots store in front of stunned shoppers has been jailed for three years nine months.
James Smith, 29, had attended Kendal College with his victim Andrew Hearn in the early 2010s before going their separate ways.
They were reunited late last year when Mr Hearn allowed Smith to live at his home in exchange for modest rent and bill payments. But when Smith fell behind and then refused to pay he moved out.
The men’s paths crossed again in Kendal’s Boots store, Stricklandgate, on the afternoon of January 18.
They struck up conversation which was friendly until Mr Hearn mentioned rent arrears. A comment by Smith about a previous tragedy then incensed Mr Hearn, who stepped forward and slapped his former pal across the face.
Graphic CCTV footage showed Smith, high on alcohol, responding by taking a knife with a two-inch blade from his clothing before slashing Mr Hearn across the torso and face, one bystander telling how they saw the attacker smirking with hands on hips in the aftermath.
“He was in a lot of pain,” prosecutor Gerard Rogerson told Carlisle Crown Court of the victim. “He could see there was a lot of blood.” The man had stated: “He’s stabbed me, he’s stabbed me.”
Staff members came to help Mr Hearn, who had suffered deep wounds to his hip, armpit and right cheek. He received hospital treatment, underwent plastic surgery and, said Mr Rogerson: “He felt lucky to be alive with the blade missing vital organs and arteries.”
In an impact statement he described of a great deal of stress and anxiety since the attack. “I tried helping James and let him stay at my address. He threw this back in my face, used my PTSD to insult me and then stabbed me,” he stated. “I see the incident clearly in my mind when I close my eyes.”
At the scene he had identified the man responsible as Smith, of Collinfield, Kendal, who was arrested and later admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The attack was said to have been “impulsive” and completely out of character for Smith, who was remorseful and had no previous convictions for any violence.
Judge Richard Archer, who also heard of Smith’s drug and alcohol struggles, and good prospects of rehabilitation, said it was merciful he was not being sentenced for murder.
“This case serves as a useful reminder to society as to why the court must take seriously the carrying — let alone the use — of knives,” said the judge as he passed sentence.
After the sentencing, acting Detective Inspector Lee Brumpton, of Cumbria police, said: “Any assault involving a knife has the potential to end in tragedy and loss of life. This violent, senseless attack could easily have resulted in death of the victim and Smith standing in court charged with murder.
“Cumbria is one of the safest places in the country to live and to work and there is absolutely no justification for someone deciding to leave their home whilst armed with a weapon.
“I would like to thank all who responded to the incident calmly and quickly, resulting in the victim receiving immediate medical care and the offender being swiftly arrested within minutes of the attack, including the paramedics, the staff at Boots and the customers inside the store, as well as the police officers who not only apprehended Smith but also administered first aid at the scene.”
