A teenager who stabbed a boy in front of his own mother has avoided a jail sentence. Hayden Pipe, then aged 18, claimed he acted in self-defence when he slashed the 17-year-old in Kingstanding. He then returned home and hid the knife in his bathroom but told police where it was when they came calling.
His own lawyer admitted Pipe was immature and had a 'playground mentality'. The now 20-year-old, from Preston Road, Hockley, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possession of a bladed article in public. A more serious charge of wounding with intent was not pursued by the Crown Prosecution Service.
At Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, April 28, he was handed a two-year community order. Pipe confessed on the basis he acted in 'excessive self-defence', accepting he had the knife but 'panicked trying to protect himself and his mother', the court was told.
The incident took place on August 10, 2024. Alura Bather prosecuting, said: "The defendant and his mother had gone to Banners Walk in Kingstanding where they encountered a group of people involving the victim, aged 17. The defendant would have been 18. A verbal exchange ensued between some members of the group and the defendant."
"During the incident the defendant produced a knife. He lashed out seeking to keep attackers at bay. During that the victim was injured. He sustained serious injuries as he hopped away and went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital." Pipe went home and hid the knife behind panelling in his bathroom but immediately revealed its location when police came to his home and arrested him.
The victim suffered a number of deep wounds and was in hospital for nearly two weeks. Pipe had never previously committed a crime. Andrew Jackson, defending, said he had issues with immaturity and went on: "Blaming everyone else, that playground mentality." He made reference to Pipe's childhood but did not go into detail about it in open court.
Recorder Fisher initially said the offences could warrant a 15-month jail term, although Pipe had spent a significant time on curfew which would have counted towards it. She told him: "Clearly you need assistance and you need help with rehabilitation. I should step back and order a community order instead. Were it not for the curfew and your personal mitigation you would be straight down the stairs. Most people in this court inevitably will take that view when you commit a wounding with a knife but your circumstances are unique and peculiar."
Pipe must complete 40 days rehabilitation activity and 80 hours of unpaid work as well as pay the victim £600 in compensation.
