Thugs left me dying in street: Dad's outrage at sentence for unprovoked attack
A MAN who almost died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the chest has spoken of his outrage at his attacker's "lenient" sentence.
Stephen Douglas, 45, was left with a large knife embedded in his chest after an unprovoked attack by three men.
The attack happened in Beverley Road, Hull, which was busy with late-night revellers, on December 6 last year.
Mr Douglas had to undergo emergency surgery to save his life.
His attackers were initially charged with attempted murder, but due to insufficient evidence, the charges were dropped.
Mark Hewson, 27, of Hampstead Court, north Hull, has been jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm.
Mr Douglas, a labourer from north Hull, said: "I think Hewson should have been charged with attempted murder. I was disappointed the charge was dropped. I would have liked him to have got a longer sentence for what he did to me.
"If it hadn't been for the passing police car, I could have died. All I was doing was walking home after having a night out. I never expected to nearly lose my life in an unprovoked attack.
"The attack made me very nervous when I go out.
"For a long time, I couldn't even go to the shops and I was off work for six months.
"I was really shocked. You hear about stabbings, but you never expect it to happen to you."
Gavin Aldridge, 23, of Stroud Crescent, Bransholme, and Michael Towse, of De La Pole Avenue, west Hull, have been given community orders.
Mr Douglas, who is a grandfather, underwent bowel surgery at Hull Royal Infirmary.
He was in hospital for 16 days and off work for six months.
Mr Douglas was punched in the face three times by Towse as he tried to walk past the three men.
When he fell to the floor, Aldridge then kicked him to the body before Hewson stabbed him twice in the chest and once in the arm.
Hewson stabbed Mr Douglas so hard he left the silver knife embedded in his chest.
A passing police car stopped at the scene and officers helped save his life.
Aldridge was arrested at the scene as Hewson and Towse fled.
Towse later handed himself in after hearing media reports of the incident.
The police arrested Hewson the next day after he was found hiding in his home.
His former girlfriend, Rachel Barley, admitted perverting the course of justice after she provided a fake alibi for him and lied to the police.
She has also been sentenced to a community order.
Towse, Aldridge and Barley all gave statements to the police to help convict Hewson.
Recorder Graham Cook said: "Hewson plunged a knife into the body of Mr Douglas and it was only by good fortune that he didn't die, otherwise you would all have been facing far more serious offences."
Towse was also ordered to attend a "thinking skills" programme. Barley was handed a three-month curfew. Aldridge was ordered to undertake 80 hours of unpaid work in the community.
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by Sonia, Hull
Sunday, September 12 2010, 5:37PM
“I think think the Judicial system in this country is to soft, we to look at the servere crimes committed in this country and give harsher sentences or even the death penalty.
After all were keeping murderers and other villians in the lap of luxsurey in prison, their just draining this countries resources.”
by Mrs Big, hull
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 4:45PM
“I know of a project who want to take a Weapons awareness workshop in to school, youth clubs, young offenders units etc....this is to give young people and young adults a workshop about carrying and using weapons and the effects it can have on oneself and victims families, it also gives all the laws, and all information on what could and will happen if carrying a weapon...we see it as "EDUCATION" is best, unfortunatley there are some few who do NOT believe there is a problem with "Knife Crime" in Hull and so this workshop should NOT be allowed!!!! when does it become a "problem" do we have to have stabbings, or someone been hurt/murdered at the hand of someone using a weapon every night?? the powers that be also seem to think that this workshop "be safe" which is home office backed will make a young person go out and use a weapon.....do the alcohol and drugs workshops make a young person go out and score some dope or drink a very strong bottle of alcohol?? I think not. Why can this sort of workshop not be offered, before it is too late, for some it already is too late.”
by Magoo, East Yorkshire
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 12:34AM
“Mrs T of Hull
You seem to have totally missed the point of my last post by a country mile. This slight barb was aimed at the HDM reporting style, not Mr Douglas.
Try reading it again”
by Mrs T, Hull
Monday, September 06 2010, 9:11PM
“Sympathy to Mr Douglas and his family. How offensive Magoo to slate a victim by your silly perception of the photo given. Are you insinuating that he deserved it by how he looks? Have some respect when commenting - or better still - don't bother!”
by Magoo, East Yorkshire
Monday, September 06 2010, 5:09PM
“Why is the word "man" put in upper case letters at the start of this story? Is there some doubt as to the victim's gender from the photo supplied? Even the worse munter in Hull does not look like this”