Masked knifeman walks free after stabbing boy aged 14 in gang attack

A 14-YEAR-OLD Derby boy was cornered, kicked, stamped on and stabbed by a gang of thugs in broad daylight in a city street.

Derby Crown Court heard how the victim was viciously assaulted after he made a comment to one of the group about urinating against his friend’s house.

CCTV images, played to the court, showed the mob, one of them armed and masked, chase the teen and then force him against a wall.

The masked member, Digmars Didzus, is then seen to stamp twice on the boy and stab him once in the leg before running off after the attack described as “cowardly”.

The brave youth got up to chase them but stopped when he realised blood was coming from the knife wound.

Twenty-two-year-old Didzus, a father-to-be, was handed a 48-week jail sentence that was suspended for two years, meaning he walked free from court.

Recorder Penelope StanistreetKeen said: “The victim was 14 at the time of this incident and on any reading this was an extremely nasty assault. You and the others punched, kicked and stamped on the victim in broad daylight in what was a cowardly attack.

“You armed yourself and stabbed him and I have read that young man’s victim impact statement in which he says he’s now extremely fearful to be out in his own neighbourhood.

I have carefully considered everything – your partner is in court, you are working and I believe there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation for you. You need to keep this group of friends at arms length and stop running with the pack.”

Sarah Allen, prosecuting, said the victim and his friend had ridden their bikes to another friend’s house in Whitaker Street, Normanton, on July 24, 2020.

She said while they waited outside for him they noticed a man urinating against that friend’s wall. She said the victim made a comment and moments later the gang appeared and walked towards him.

The prosecutor said: “One of them took a baton out of his clothing and cornered him (the victim). He went down and covered his face with his hands but was punched and kicked by the men.

“There is CCTV showing this defendant, who was wearing a mask, kick him once, stamp on him and then stab him to the leg. They then ran off and the victim got up and gave chase but realised his leg was bleeding and that he had been stabbed.”

Miss Allen said mercifully the teen was not seriously injured and she read out his victim impact statement. In it he said: “I don’t feel safe in my own area and this incident has knocked my confidence. I feel uncomfortable walking to the park where I used to play sports.”

Didzus, 21, of Howard Street, Normanton, Derby, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Patrick Williamson, his barrister, said his client had distanced himself from the other people in the gang, was in full-time employment and that his partner was expecting their first child.

He said: “His behaviour was entirely out of character. In the two years since this incident, he has taken steps to rectify the wrong he has done.

“He has now separated from this peer group.”

As part of the suspended sentence, Recorder Stanistreet-Keen ordered Didzus to carry out 150 hours unpaid work and pay the teenager he stabbed £500 compensation.

The hearing was told how two other members of the gang – Dinars Paucs, 21, of Osmaston Road, and Sandis Gindra, 20, of Holmes Street, both in Derby – have already been dealt with by the courts for assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the boy at earlier hearings.