Eastwood knife attack thugs jailed at Southend Crown Court

The victim, a man in his 20s, was left with multiple serious wounds following the attack last October, which Southend Crown Court heard was motivated by a dispute over the relationship.

During the incident in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, on October 5, multiple men chased and attacked the victim after hunting him down in two separate vehicles.

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At Southend Crown Court yesterday, 24-year-old Josh Parson, of Baxter Avenue, Southend and a 17-year-old boy from Southend, who cannot be named for legals reasons, were each handed sentences of three-and-a-half years.

The 17-year-old had previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article, while Parson admitted violent disorder and possession of a blade article.

Both defendants were also issued with unlimited term restraining orders preventing them from going near the victim and his girlfriend.

Jailed - Parson was handed a 3 and a half year sentence for his role in the attack (Image: Essex Police) The court heard that while Parson was the instigator of the violent attack, it was the 17-year-old who delivered at least one of the three stab suffered by the victim.  One of the stab wounds was so severe it chipped his thigh bone.

Addressing the pair before delivering their sentences, Judge Samantha Cohen, said: “It was a savage attack, a brutal attack, on a young man.

“This kind of feral gang violence using knives is a curse on our community.”

The court also heard how Parson had a “long-standing hatred” for the victim, that was stemmed from a previous falling-out over romantic partners.

During the hearing, the court was told the victim had recovered from his injured but suffers lasting psychological impacts.

Mitigating for Parson, lawyer Nick Bonehill, pointed to the defendant’s exemplary educational attainment while in prison on remand as well as his difficult childhood and learning difficulties.

For the 17-year-old’s mitigation, lawyer Oliver Kirk, highlighted his defendant’s ADHD diagnosis and said assessments showed his intellect was similar to a child of eight or nine.

The 17-year-old was sentenced to 43 months for causing grievous bodily harm and five months for possession of a bladed article, to be served concurrently. While Parson was sentenced to 43 months for violent disorder and 16 months for possession of a bladed weapon, also to be served concurrently.

Parson must pay £228 as a victim surcharge, and the 17-year-old must pay £42