A judge has expressed regret at having to send a young man to custody for a violent knife attack on Birmingham's bustling Broad Street, describing it as a 'terrible waste of a life'.
Violent Broad Street Confrontation
Jake Bishop, aged 20, of Walkers Heath Road, Kings Norton, launched a terrifying assault on the evening of September 7 last year. The court heard that two victims had attempted to calm an argument involving Bishop's group when the situation escalated dramatically.
One victim was pushed, prompting Bishop to approach him from behind. "This defendant grabbed him around the neck to totally prevent him moving," stated prosecutor Claire Harris. Bishop then pulled a knife from his pocket and slashed the man's neck, causing what was later described as two superficial wounds.
In a further menacing act, Bishop threatened the injured man, saying 'I will kill you'. He then turned on the victim's friend, who was recording the incident, knocking the phone from his hand. As that man fell to the ground while backing away, Bishop stamped on his head.
A Future 'In Tatters' After Guilty Plea
At Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, January 8, the court was told Bishop had no previous convictions and had harboured ambitions of following his father into a military career – a dream now seemingly destroyed by his actions.
Bishop had pleaded guilty to attempted wounding with intent, possession of a knife in a public place, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. His defence barrister, Morgan Pirone, stated Bishop had shown maturity by admitting his crimes but acknowledged he still had 'some growing up to do'.
Pirone explained Bishop carried the knife for 'self defence' due to a prior attack, and argued "This young man is far more than the behaviour he displayed that night." The barrister added that Bishop was remorseful, particularly over the distress caused to his mother.
Judge's Reluctant Sentence and Knife Crime Warning
Passing sentence, Recorder Katya Saudek said she was 'surprised' at the choice of the first charge, noting that if serious harm was intended, Bishop could have caused it. She described the neck injury as 'superficial'.
Nevertheless, the judge imposed a sentence of two years and three months in a youth detention facility. This term was above the two-year threshold that would have allowed for a suspended sentence.
"If I could have avoided sending you to custody I would have," Recorder Saudek told Bishop. "But for people using and carrying knives in public places, it's just not something I can do."
She issued a stern warning about the perils of carrying blades, stating: "You don't expect to have to use them but you get yourself in an unexpected situation and in the spur of the moment you pull out that knife. People end up getting injured and sometimes people get very seriously injured or even killed."
The judge concluded by acknowledging the personal cost to Bishop, saying: "You obviously are paying a high price for carrying a knife because you had future plans and you threw them away and it's a great shame."
