A peacemaker was stabbed during an ‘ape-like’ drunken street brawl outside a nightclub in Torquay, court has been told
Reece Moult pulled out a blade and jabbed it into the shoulder of a man in a case of mistaken identity.
A crazed Moult then used the knife to attack a doorman who was trying to separate the mob fighting outside Park Lane in Torwood Street.
Moult, aged 24, remained at the scene throwing punches and hitting people from behind until police arrived.
He pleaded guilty to causing GBH with intent, ABH and possessing a bladed article at Exeter Crown Court and sentenced to four years and nine months.
The incident happened in the early hours of May 3.
The victim said he came out of Park Lane and saw lots of people fighting. He said that ‘out of nowhere’ a man ran at him and he felt a blow to the shoulder.
He initially thought he had been punched before noticing he was covered in blood. He went to hospital with a deep wound that was 4cm long but discharged himself without treatment when he was told he’d have to wait eight hours.
CCTV of the incident showed a large group of men facing off in the street. Moult could be seen with the knife in his hand stalking a man who was wearing very similar clothing to the victim.
He appeared to get the two men mixed up before delivering the blow.
He then used the 6 to 8-inch knife on a doorman who was trying to pull people apart. The second assault only resulted in a scratch on the chest.
Judge David Evans said the CCTV showed Moult was clearly ready to use the knife and was not under attack himself at the time.
He said Moult could very easily have ended up killing his victim.
He described how the doorman had been confronted with a scene of ‘unending ape-like aggression’ from Moult and his group of friends.
The defendant, of Foulston Avenue, Plymouth, has a history of violence and previous convictions for GBH, ABH and affray.
Francesca Whebell, defending, said he could not remember anything about the incident because he was so drunk or explain his actions. But he is very sorry and ashamed.
The victim said in a statement he has suffered severe psychological trauma as a result of the stabbing and is now too scared to go into town.
Source – Devon Live
