Drug dealer O-Keeno Brown jailed for 12 years after Tunbridge Wells stabbing
by Keith Hunt
A drug dealer who stabbed a man in the chest in a park has been
jailed for 12 years.
Ricky Willingham had to be flown by air ambulance to a London
hospital to be treated for a collapsed lung and severe blood
loss.
O-Keeno Brown, 22, was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm
with intent. He was also convicted of assaulting Mr Willingham's
drug-using friend Alisha Lampard.
Judge Philip Statman said: "It all too well illustrates
where drugs are involved the dealer may well have a weapon. They go
hand in glove.
"This case clearly shows what can happen when a self-confessed
dealer in class A controlled drugs takes out into a public place a
weapon, a flick knife concealed in a jacket with the blade open,
and meets on a common in Tunbridge Wells a drug user out to score
heroin."
The judge said of drugs: "It is the greatest cancer known in
modern day living. It shows what is happening. The effects can be
seen every in this court.
"But for that, this injury would never have occurred and the
knife would not have been used in the way it was."
Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Willingham, 50, was a former drug
user while Miss Lampard was still addicted. Both were heavy
drinkers.
On July 19 this year, Miss Lampard contacted Brown and arranged
to go to a flat in Neville Street get drugs. Mr Willingham went
with her.
Brown, of Tottenham, north London, had foil wraps in his hand
- but Miss Lampard did not have any money. Mr Willingham saw
that Brown was holding a knife.
Police cordoned off
Tunbridge Wells station after the stabbing
After they left the flat, Brown rang Miss Lampard and told her
to meet him on the common. After they arrived, Mr Willingham sat on
the grass drinking cider.
Brown called Mr Willingham a w***** and tapped him on the back
of the head three times. The victim started to walk away, but Brown
stabbed him in the upper chest.
As Miss Lampard was calling the emergency services, she was
pushed to the ground and kicked in the side and face.
Jamaica-born Brown, who was granted indefinite leave to stay in
the UK in July last year, denied both charges. He claimed he acted
in self-defence when knifing Mr Willingham and denied assaulting
Miss Lampard.
19/11/12
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