Teenager stabbed man in row over cigarette
A TEENAGER stabbed a man in broad daylight outside a city centre cafe after a row over a cigarette, a court heard.
Jacel Finlayson, 18, has been jailed for six years and declared ‘dangerous’ following the unprovoked attack outside Pret a Manger in Cross Street last summer.
A judge said Finlayson had a ‘worrying’ record of criminal offences.
He had been found in possession of knives on three previous occasions, had attacked a takeaway worker and been banned from Tesco in Old Trafford.
Manchester Crown Court heard that the victim, a 33-year-old man, was drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette while sat in an outdoor area of the cafe in the city centre at about 5pm on August 16.
The man had his cigarettes on the table, and Finlayson walked over and took one without permission, prosecutor Juilet Berry said.
Finlayson walked away, and the man went to ask him what he was doing. He snatched the cigarette back out of Finlayson’s hand, and sat down.
The next thing he knew, he felt three ‘pinches’ to his back, and then felt blood running down his neck.
He had been stabbed three times by Finlayson, who he saw running off with a large knife.
The victim was discharged after spending two nights in hospital, but was brought back in for another two nights after his wounds became infected.
In a statement, he described suffering nightmares and said he was too scared to leave the house.
Finlayson was identified by CCTV and arrested days later.
He has nine convictions for 18 previous offences, including robbery and possession of a samurai sword.
He was convicted of common assault after an incident in a Dominos pizza takeaway, assaulting a worker after he was challenged when taking a drink from a fridge.
Another of his victims suffered a broken ankle after Finlayson tried to rob her of her phone and handbag.
She clung on to her belongings but fell, later needing surgery.
He had been banned from Tesco in Old Trafford, and when told to leave he spat at one security officer and punched another.
Defending, Daniel Lister said Finlayson ‘will have done a lot of growing up’ by the time he is released.
He said Finlayson’s family have stuck by him despite his ‘appalling behaviour.’
Finlayson, of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding with intent, and one count of possessing a bladed article.
He will serve two-thirds of a six year sentence in a young offenders’ institution, and a further year and eight months on licence.