An innocent man was left fighting for his life after he was stabbed six times by a beggar because he refused to give him money.
Dean Jones stabbed the man for refusing to give him money
Two beggars have been jailed after they ‘gutted’ a man when he refused to hand over cash to them, Metro reports. Dean Jones, 26 got a lengthy jail term for stabbing Keith Newbold.
It was gathered that Newbold had refused to give him any cash so he punched and kicked him before stabbing him six times while he curled up in a bid to protect himself.
Jones' friend Sean Kelly, 23 who didn't involve in the battering was caught after he tried to use Newbold's card to make withdrawals at McDonalds.
Newbold received a slash to the arm and multiple stab wounds to his abdomen in the attack last August, which has been described as ‘lifechanging’.
After the attack he staggered to a nearby takeaway, bleeding profusely, where he drifted in and out of consciousness before an ambulance came to take him to hospital.
There he was found to have three stab wounds in his stomach.
Mr Newbold said in a victim statement: ‘There has never been a time before this attack when I felt my life was in danger.
‘It terrified me that I had no time to react and get away. I felt trapped. I think it is disgraceful myself and other members of the public do not feel safe to walk through our own home city.’
Mr Newbold said the pain he suffered was ‘excruciating’, he has permanent scarring and it was unclear what impact the injuries would have on his employment as a groundworker.
Jones was jailed for 12 years and six months while Kelly was jailed for 14 months.
Recorder Darren Preston told Newcastle Crown Court: ‘He was lucky to have escaped without even more permanent damage than he has, or even death.
‘This was a city centre, where people should feel safe to go about their business.’
Sean Kelly
Nick Cartmell, defending Jones, told the court; ‘It was a hot summer’s night, a good night for begging. These were homeless people, he and his girlfriend were at the cashpoint, there was an argument.
‘It was a joint attack. He was not the initial stabber. He was not responsible for all the injuries that were inflicted. He is now sober and no longer on drugs.
‘He reflects back on this as a night of horror and is truly sorry for the life-changing injuries inflicted on Mr Newbold.’
Defence for Kelly, who was not involved in the stabbing, said he had stopped taking legal highs and re-established a family relationship.