Man who ‘inexplicably’ stabbed victim in head jailed

Stevie French 'has the potential to turn from friend to foe in the blink of an eye'

A man who police say “suddenly and inexplicably” turned on a person he knew and stabbed them in the head has been jailed for two years and four months.

Stevie French, 49, was drinking with the victim at a pub in Littleport, Cambridgeshire, in August last year before the pair went to French’s house in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire.

The victim was in the kitchen when French demanded money before he used a knife to stab the victim in the head and cause lacerations to his hands.

French pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm without intent at Huntingdon Law Courts, where he was also handed a five-year restraining order on Friday.

Police said after French's attack, the victim threw blood-soaked cash towards French and headed for the door, which had been barricaded with a plank of wood.

He escaped and fled to an ex-partner’s house, where an ambulance was called.

Detective Constable Billie Baker commended the victim's "courage... bravery" and "remarkable strength in the face of extreme physical and emotional trauma".

They also commended the victim’s ex-partner for her "lifesaving actions".

"It is clear French is a violent man with the potential to turn from friend to foe in the blink of an eye without any regard for who he hurts or the consequences of his actions," said Det Con Baker.

"He turned on the victim suddenly and inexplicably with a terrifying level of violence.

"I’m glad justice has been done today and French will be spending time behind bars, and I hope this, along with the restraining order, will go some way to helping the victim recover and start to feel safe again."

French's five-year restraining order prevents him from contacting the victim or any witnesses in the case and prevents him from entering Littleport.