Teen stabbed in stomach after Ashford nightclub row
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by Paul Hooper
A youngster has told of the moment he faced a rival armed with
two kitchen knives after a bust-up in an Ashford nightclub.
Terrified Charlie Cooper pleaded with Connor O'Sullivan to drop
the weapons - but was then stabbed in the stomach.
O'Sullivan, 19, of Langholm Road, Ashford was jailed for six
years after admitting wounding with intent during the fight in
September last year.
James Bilsland, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court
O'Sullivan had been drinking with his girlfriend at the Liquid
nightclub in East Hill.
During the evening, O'Sullivan (pictured left) had thrown a
drink towards teenage Mr Cooper - showering him with broken
glass.
He was then ejected by club bouncers, but took a taxi home,
changed his clothes and armed himself with the knives before
returning to the club.
Mr Cooper and friend Sam Ford then went into town to get some
food - but an hour later spotted O'Sullivan walking up the
hill.
He told police officers: "He had changed his clothes and was now
wearing a hoodie. As Connor walked towards us he kept shouting:
'Come on then.'
"He came towards me swinging the knives. He was just going mad…” – victim Charlie Cooper
"When he was a few feet away, I could see that he had two
kitchen knives. I shouted: 'Put the knives down, Connor.' But he
just kept shouting: 'Come on then' and was just generally going
mad. He was swinging the knives about throwing them towards Sam and
I. It was then we started to run."
The court heard the frightened youngsters then ran towards the
Stour Centre as the knives were being thrown at them.
Mr Cooper added: "I went across the field. Connor came after me.
I then stopped running and decided to fight Connor. He came towards
me swinging the knives towards me. He was just going mad. I kept
dodging his swings shouting for him to drop the knives.
"At some point I got him in a headlock and we went to the floor
wrestling. Connor must have stabbed me then although at that time I
couldn't feel it because of the adrenaline.
Nightclub bouncers and friends then used a jumper to stem the
blood flow until he was taken to hospital where he spent a week
recovering from his injury.
The court heard O'Connor has previous convictions - including
one in February 2010 where he had a bust-up at a golf club - then
left, armed himself with baseball bat, before returning. He was
stopped by police before attacking anyone. 
The pair clashed in
Ashford's Liquid nightclub
Judge James O'Mahony told him: "You clearly had drink that night
and there had been some argy-bargy in the club.
"But you left and went home. You had time to think. You got two
knives, which is indicative how dangerously out of control you
were.
"You changed your clothes, again time to think. Then a 10-minute
walk to the club, again time to think. People were telling you to
put the knives down.
"But you chased after the two men and stabbed Mr Cooper. Happily
there was no threat to life - but that was just a matter of
fortune."
The judge jailed him for six years and ordered an extended
three-year period of licence.
Wednesday, February 22 2012
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