The victim needed a new belly button after Bodmin’s stabbing

A knife crime victim needed a new belly button after being stabbed in the stomach. Lewis Ford armed himself with a knife for his own protection against drug gangs before fighting off the man he stabbed multiple times.

Appearing at Truro Crown Court today (Friday June 7) for sentencing, Ford, 24, of Wallace Road in Bodmin, faced charges of wounding with intent (GBH) and possession of a knife in connection with the stabbing to a man outside the White Hart. Inn in town on July 17, 2020.

The court heard how that evening Ford, who was described as “functioning below his chronological age” and having learning difficulties, armed himself with a knife as a way of protecting himself after being attacked by drug dealers in County. He was involved in a verbal altercation with the victim who was also out with friends. The verbal argument escalated until Ford pulled out a knife and stabbed him several times in the stomach and shoulder before fleeing the scene.

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The court heard how Ford was arrested at his home address by Devon and Cornwall Police in the early hours of the following morning. In interviews with police, Ford first said he had been with a friend at the time of the stabbing. He later pleaded guilty to the two counts against him.

A victim impact statement read in court said the injuries he suffered had a dramatic impact on his physical and mental health and also greatly affected his ability to work, leaving him less able to lift heavy objects as usual or with continued pain. over stomach and shoulder.

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The victim said she was out of work for three months after the attack and had to receive counseling regularly for the past four years. In his statement, he said he had lost his second weight since the attack and found it difficult to gain weight again after losing so much core strength.

He said the attack left him feeling anxious and angry when he had previously been such a gentle and calm person. He said he no longer goes out with friends and prefers to go shopping at supermarkets outside the town rather than going into Bodmin town center for fear of what might happen to him.

He added: “For the last few years I have struggled with depression. I have to go see a counsellor. I have good days and bad days but it still plays on my mind. As a result I suffer from PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) I have nightmares and I wake up in a panic, I am very anxious in medical situations and have panic attacks.

The court also heard from the medical report which listed his injuries, which said he received six stitches to his shoulder and a 25cm deep cut to his stomach. A medical report, also read in court, said a new belly button had to be reconstructed during surgery as a result of his injuries.

Ryan Murray, defending, said Ford was a 20-year-old of previous good character who fell prey to county drug gangsters who often target people with learning disabilities. He said: “Mr Ford is a man of few words who struggles to express his emotions and is operating significantly below his chronological age. He is sorry for what he did and for the pain and suffering he caused another totally innocent person.

“He had aspirations of joining the Royal Marines, but that career plan went awry. He’s been waiting for the last four years for the police to knock on his door.

“This was a horrific incident. Mr. Ford is a man of previous good character, so it begs the question of why he committed such a serious crime. He was in bed with bad people and he was in over his head. He was young and impressionable and easily swayed by people involved in county line operations who prey on people like him.

“That’s not an excuse, but an explanation for why he had a knife with him that day. It was for protection.”

Judge Simon Carr said this was a “deeply sad case”, underlining once again the dangers of knife crime. Jailing Ford for four years, Judge Carr added: ‘You have been sold out by those involved in county lines who like to target vulnerable people like you. Drugs are always associated with violence and so you armed yourself with a knife to protect yourself. in case something went wrong.

“On the night in question you were out drinking. You met the victim you knew by sight. You argued and pulled out your knife and stabbed him several times. The worst injury you inflicted was a deep gash in your stomach. This court deals with murder trials where stab wounds are involved.

Judge Carr added: “You ran away, leaving an injured man lying in the street. For reasons no one can explain to you, you had to wait four years for this matter to go to court. It is unforgivable. You have expressed genuine remorse and disbelief for what you have done. The impact on your victim was physically and psychologically devastating.”

Ford will serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole.