Man jailed for 10 years following knife attack
A MAN has been jailed for a knife attack in Reading town centre days before Christmas last year.
Ervis Kola, aged 35, of Brighton Road, faces 10 years behind bars. He will also be on licence for five years after his release.
The incident took place in
Market Place around 2pm on Tuesday, December 19.
It involved a verbal altercation between Kola and a man in his twenties.
Kola slashed the victim across the face and neck before fleeing.
The victim sustained lifethreatening injuries and, even though these have since healed, the scars serve are a reminder.
Kola was arrested the same day and charged on Wednesday, December 20.
On June 16, he was found guilty of one count each of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place following a five-day hearing at Reading Crown Court, and was sentenced on Wednesday, September 6.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Kevin Godding, of Reading’s CID team, said: “This was a callous knife which occurred in broad daylight in a busy area while people were Christmas shopping.
“Knife crime will not be tolerated in our communities, and I hope that Kola’s lengthy sentence sends out a strong message that we will seek to prosecute those who do so.
“It is completely unacceptable for anybody to carry a knife, and Thames Valley Police will continue to pursue those who carry them and bring them before the courts.”
Friday saw electro outfit AK:DK, synth-pop purveyors W. H. Lung, and The Comet is Coming, who announced that it would be the last show in the band’s current guise while members focused on other projects.
Meanwhile performances over on the Second Stage included Hatty Taylor, Maria Uzor, and Nuha Ruby Ra.
On Saturday, Sweet Baboo opened proceedings with earnest, pop-tinged indie folk, alongside The August List, Madalitso Band, Ben Marwood, and Kah’Nya.
The bill also included Band of Hope, who mixed classic country with modern influences, and features presenter and journalist Matt Allwright on guitar.
Following the set, he said: “The Abbey was closed off to us when we were kids; we knew it was here, but it was hidden away for so long.
“It’s a natural auditorium, where putting a stage at one end where everyone can see it makes everybody happy.”
He explained: “It’s amazing that Reading has such a great place for it like this, and the genius of the festival is in its line-up. “There were people on the bill I’ve wanted to see all my life: Jeffrey Lewis, BC Camp Light, and Pale Blue Eyes were fantastic.
“And Sweet Baboo who were the first thing we saw today were so cool.”
He added: “We were so privileged to play here, so mark it in your calendar for next year , because Reading should be really proud to have a festival this adventurous and engaging.
“May it continue for many years.”
Pale Eyes then brought introspective, wistful, guitar-driven surf rock with higher aspirations and deeper roots to the stage.
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