Bristol machete attacker jailed for 18 years

Joel Binnings' attack left his victim in intensive care for two months

A man who attacked a teenage boy with a machete in a city centre McDonald's has been jailed for 18 years.

Joel Binnings, 20, admitted causing his victim grievous bodily harm after stabbing him multiple times at the restaurant on The Horsefair in Bristol on 8 February, but denied trying to kill him.

In September a jury found him guilty of attempted murder.

Sentencing Binnings on Friday, Judge Peter Blair described the offence as "incredibly serious" and one that has had life-changing consequences for the victim.

Binnings fled the area after the attack, and was arrested a few days later.

The victim, who was 16 years old at the time, was taken to hospital where he spent nearly four months receiving treatment – two months of which were in intensive care.

He continues to recover from his injuries, some of which are life-changing, the trial heard.

Several members of the public went to his aid, including an off-duty nurse, before police and ambulance crews arrived.

'Witnesses traumatised'

Det Insp Hannah Marsh, the senior investigating officer, said: “This was a horrendous attack on a teenage boy by another young man using a large knife in a very public place.

“Families and children were inside McDonald's at the time of the incident and were traumatised by what they witnessed.

“The ferocity of the attack carried out by Binnings was such that his victim is very lucky to be alive.

“The material we gathered, which was presented to the jury, left them with no doubt that Binnings meant to kill his victim, and he now rightly can expect to spend a significant time behind bars.”

She added: “They [the public] not only comforted him and provided him with reassurance, they saved his life and their humanity and public spiritedness deserves to be recognised.”

He will serve his sentence in a young offenders' institution up to the age of 21 before being moved to an adult jail.