Man jailed after cutting boy's neck with knife

A man has been jailed after he admitted to cutting a boy's neck with a knife during a fight in Stone last year.

Jamie Coleman, aged 34, of Stone, was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on 3 February, after admitting one count of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. 

The court heard how officers were informed of a possible stabbing in Westbridge Park in Stone at around 9.20pm on 2 August last year. 

The victim, a 15-year-old boy, had suffered a large slash wound to his neck. He was tended to by an off-duty paramedic who alerted us to what had happened. The boy was taken to hospital by ambulance and received a number of stitches. 

Our CCTV inquiries led us to discover footage showing Coleman producing a Stanley knife during a fight with the victim, swinging it in the boy’s face before making off from the scene. 

Coleman had previously been in the park and had an altercation with a group of young people before being told by officers to leave the area. He returned a short time later and attacked the boy. 

Officers arrested Coleman after he returned to the area again, having washed the blood from his hands. 

Alongside his jail term, Coleman was handed a restraining order, preventing him from contacting the victim.  

Speaking following sentencing, Detective Constable Edward Taylor-Brown, of Stoke South local policing team, said: "This was a violent and targeted attack on a child which has understandably had a profound effect on them. 

"Thanks to the quick actions of an off-duty paramedic, the victim has been able to make a full physical recovery, though the psychological impact of what happened continues to affect him.

"I am pleased Coleman admitted his offending in court and that he was handed a custodial sentence for his actions which could have resulted in a fatality if it hadn't have been for the help of a passerby. 

"I would commend the courage of the victim in assisting us with our inquiries and hope the sentence provides some comfort to him and his family as he continues his recovery.

“This result shows our dedication to securing justice for the victims of violent crime. 

“The sentence sends a clear message that those that choose to carry and use knives will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”