Teen jailed for knife attack (From Wiltshire Times)

Teen jailed for knife attack

9:10am Tuesday 21st October 2008 in Latest News By Victoria Ashford

A TEENAGER has been jailed for three years and seven months for slashing a man’s face, leaving him needing 20 stitches.

Stuart Mansell, 19, of Portway Lane in Warminster, was high on drink and drugs when he launched the vicious attack on the acquaintance in his own home.

Lynne Henderson, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court on Friday how Mansell had gone to Lee Franklin’s flat in Warminster on October 17, 2007, to try and obtain cannabis.

She said Mansell was no more than an acquaintance to Mr Franklin who didn’t want to answer the door to him.

After calling at the communal door the defendant yelled, ‘Let me in, open this door now’.

He tried to calm him down and they went through to his flat where Mansell asked him for some cannabis.

Mr Franklin told him he did not have any, to which Mansell replied, ‘You liar,’ and became angry and agitated.

He was holding his hair and pulling at it with both hands and hitting himself on the top of the head.

The court was told he then asked for a knife to cut his hair with and despite being told there wasn’t one found a penknife in the kitchen.

He then started wielding it towards Mr Franklin and a 17 year old who was also in the flat, before pinning down the younger man and threatening him.

The youngster was in fear for his life before Mansell turned his attention elsewhere giving him the chance to escape from the flat.

Mansell then turned his attention to Mr Franklin and cut his face from the below the left corner of the cheekbone.

As a result of the attack the court heard the victim had to undergo an operation under general anaesthetic.

Mansell admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The court heard he had a history of violent offending, including beating a man with a police baton in Warminster Park.

Michael Cullum, defending, said his client accepted he was facing a lengthy jail term having never experienced custody before.

He said Mansell had experienced a ‘terrible upbringing’ and suffered the loss of his grandmother, a relationship had broken down and he lost his job at the time.

Since the offence a few months after his 18th birthday, he said his client had not committed any further offences.

He said he now knew that if he took cannabis it would not help his depression, but exacerbate it.

Judge Mark Horton said: “You attacked the victim in his own home in an unprovoked attack with a knife causing a serious and permanent injury to his face which requires 20 stitches with which he will live for the rest of his life.”