Thug locked up after potato peeler attack at station
by
Danny Boyle
A teenage thug has today been locked up for repeatedly stabbing
a train passenger in the back... with a potato peeler.
Perry Morris, from Broadstairs (pictured), penetrated both the
lungs of his 20-year-old victim in the vicious attack at
Westgate-on-Sea station.
Now the 19-year-old has been sent to a young offenders’
institution for three years after admitting causing grievous bodily
harm.
Canterbury Crown Court heard he and friends Danny Gray, 17, and
18-year-old Jacey Daly targeted the victim on a platform.
The victim had stopped to chat to a friend who was with the trio
when a row broke out at about 4.30pm on June 27, 2011.
Gray punched the victim to the ground because he thought Morris
was going to be attacked.
As the victim got up, he was set upon by all three
teenagers.
In the scuffle, Morris stabbed him with the potato peeler - but
the victim did not realise he was bleeding until they had left.
He spent nine days in Margate’s QEQM Hospital for three wounds
that punctured both lungs.
The victim’s mother Christine Dawson said her son and family
have struggled to deal with the last 18 months.
She said: "We’re relieved that this has now been
dealt with by the courts because it will allow us to try and move
on together as a family and put this behind us."
Judge Adele Williams said: "You had all been drinking. Morris
started the argument, Gray knocked the victim to the ground, there
was a struggle and then Daly struck him on the head.
"Morris then stabbed him in the back three times with a potato
peeler. These were serious injuries and he was taken to hospital
where it was discovered both his lungs had collapsed."
She said Morris claimed he did not know why he had the potato
peeler, claiming it must have belonged to a friend.
The judge added Gray and Daly were unaware Morris had been
carrying a weapon - and both showed remorse.
Morris, of Prince Andrew Road, was told he will serve half his
sentence before being released with supervision.
Gray, of Gordon Road, Broadstairs, was given a two-year youth
rehabilitation order and told to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid
work.
Daly, of Orgarswick Avenue, Dymchurch, was also given a two-year
youth rehabilitation order. Both Gray and Daly admitted causing
actual bodily harm.
All three defendants changed their pleas to guilty at the start
of their trial in July.
DC Steve Best, from British Transport Police, said: "If you
choose to carry a weapon and use it, it will not be tolerated by
the police service, community, or the courts."
13/11/12
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