Stabbed teen's family fear survivors are forgotten

James Bascoe-Smith was 17 when he was stabbed

The family of a stabbing survivor are raising awareness of the huge impact such attacks have on the victims and their families.

James Bascoe-Smith was 17 when he was stabbed on 23 February 2021 while riding a bicycle in south London.

He was left with life-changing brain injuries, uses a wheelchair and also needs a full-time carer.

His aunt Rachel Duncan is determined for her nephew's story to reach other young people so they can see the devastation that comes with carrying knives.

"They'll never understand what they've done to our family," she said.

Lisa said she was too scared to go home when her son was in hospital

James spent more than a year in hospital and had to learn how to eat and speak again.

In May 2022 he was finally discharged.

Mum Lisa had to become a full-time carer to her son.

Not only that, Lisa and James had to move out of Brixton as they did not feel safe there and their home was not wheelchair accessible.

The family were also having to fundraise for James's therapy and get through the trial - so there was no space and time to come to terms with what happened, Lisa's sister Rachel explained.

"I speak to a lot of bereaved mums, and my heart breaks for them, it really does," Rachel added.

"We are truly glad he is alive but just seeing his life now, it is not fair."

James spent more than a year in hospital

In November last year, James and his family were at the Old Bailey to watch as his attackers, Leon Rashid, 20, from Thornton Heath, and Taiquane Lewis, 19, from Kennington, were jailed for life for conspiracy to murder.

In a pre-recorded video that was played to the jury, James described in detail the physical and emotional devastation they caused.

He said: "They have stopped me from driving, going on my first holiday with my friends to celebrate my 18th birthday, gymnastics coaching, working and from becoming a music producer as I was studying this in college.

"I cannot get out of bed on my own, I cannot even brush my own teeth and I need a lot of medication to help me with my recovery."

He also said he wanted to ask his attackers why they targeted him.

James's family are determined to campaign against knife crime

James's aunt Rachel, who has become a campaigner against knife crime, has the same question.

"Our cemeteries are full of young people, how is that normal? It needs to stop," she said.

She hopes to meet her nephew's attackers one day, "just to see what happened in their lives".

She added: "Can I prevent them from coming out of prison and being who they still were?"

'Playing God'

She believes everyone has a part to play in tackling knife crime.

"Speak to your children. Find out what's going on in their lives, because these boys had knives," she said.

"Massive machetes, and Rambo knives, zombie knives. They're playing God, they're taking people's lives."

James said he wanted to ask his attackers why they targeted him

James, whose nickname is Smiler, faces more surgery and expects to be back in hospital over Christmas.

Although he has not wanted to talk again about what happened to him, he hopes further surgery will help him regain more movement in his legs.

He says the paramedics who saved him gave him "a second chance" at life.

As for his family, they remain determined to keep campaigning against knife crime and fundraising to pay for his therapy sessions and medical equipment.

"James has given 100%," Lisa said. "I just have to give that back."

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

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