Man sorry for stabbing victim’s neck

A CARPENTER told a court he was sorry that he unintentionally stabbed a man in the neck with a chisel.

Owen Lloyd had moved from Park Street in Bristol when police drove by. But, after ending up in the back of Molto Buono restaurant, he picked up a chisel before being pursued from the premises.

When Alain Naughton tried to make a citizen’s arrest, Lloyd turned around and the chisel he was holding went just under two inches into Mr Naughton’s neck.

Lloyd, 20, of Badminton Road in Downend, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm in October last year.

Judge Mark Horton handed him a 21-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He told Lloyd: “This was, classically, reckless behaviour of a young man in possession of a bladed article.”

Lloyd was handed a six-month curfew in which he must be at home from 7pm to 5am.

He was told to pay his victim £1,000, with a £160 victim surcharge, as well as undergo a two-year community order in which he must do 40 days’ rehabilitation.

Lloyd declined to comment as he left Bristol Crown Court.

Mr Naughton suffered an arterial bleed and emergency services called to the scene administered life-saving first aid before he underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot.

Lloyd told police he had not intended serious harm and had picked up the chisel in panic.

He apologised to the court for the harm he had caused.

He said: “I owe a debt I wish to repay. I never dreamed anything so awful would happen.”

He told the court he had since turned his life around and wanted to be a functioning member of society rather than a prisoner.