Prolific offender is jailed for 10 years

A prolific offender has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after stabbing a man and hitting another with a wrench in two separate attacks in Stoke-on-Trent.

Sam Austin, 28, of no fixed address, was handed a nine-year jail term at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Wednesday 15 May after previously pleading guilty to robbery.

On Wednesday 28 June last year Austin attacked a man at an address in Wade Street, Burslem, punching him and then hitting him with a wrench following an argument over a bicycle.

The victim was taken to hospital after suffering a concussion, two fractures to his face, a hole in his retina and a cut to his arm.

Following the attack Austin left the property with the victim’s bag, which contained jewellery, £60 cash and other belongings.

He also received a further sentence of one year in prison after admitting an unrelated charge of affray at an earlier hearing.

Austin stabbed another man in a fight on a supermarket car park in Hanley. During the incident in June 2021, the victim received stab wounds to his arm and leg. His injuries were not life-threatening.

On sentencing, Detective Constable Emma Blackband, from CID North, said: “We welcome this custodial sentence. Austin is a prolific offender with a desire to follow a path of criminality.

“Today he has also been sentenced for a number of other unrelated matters, including burglary and being concerned in the supply of a class B drug. We have made the streets a safer place, removing an individual intent on breaking the law and doing physical harm to others.”