Man jailed for stabbing strangers in street attack

Leon Telemacque was sentenced to life

A man who repeatedly stabbed a young couple in a "frenzied and unprovoked" late-night attack in Exeter has been jailed.

Leon Telemacque, 32, of St Clements Road, Birmingham, seriously wounded both victims, who were strangers to him, with a kitchen knife at about 02:00 BST on 18 May 2024.

He stabbed the man multiple times in the neck and the woman in the chest after he attacked them as they walked home from a bus stop on Bampfylde Street, Exeter, the court heard.

Telemacque, 32, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 17 years after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted murder at Exeter Crown Court.

'Terrified'

Brandishing a 20cm (7.8in) knife, Telemacque chased the man, and only stopped his pursuit when the victim reached the busy Sidwell Street, the court heard.

He was arrested trying to flee the area after a group of passers-by guided police officers to his location.

The court heard how the victims, aged in their 20s, feared they were going to die and have been left fearful as a result of the attack.

In impact statements read to the court, the male victim said: "I was terrified and thought we were both going to die when I saw that knife in his hand.

"I will be stuck with those scenes for the rest of my life."

The female victim added: "At night, when I'm walking, I will keep looking back over my shoulder, I feel like I need to get out of wherever I am."

The knife used in the attack

The court was told Telemacque suffered from delusions caused by a mental disorder.

The judge said this could provide some explanation for what Telemacque did, but the court heard how after the incident he had said he thought his actions had "livened up Exeter a bit".

The judge said the comment, combined with the fact that Telemacque had tried to hide his weapon, suggested he knew that the attack "could not have any lawful basis" and amounted to bragging about what he had done.