Attacker jailed after stabbing outside busy Kirkby-in-Ashfield pub

Tyrone James had been under the influence of alcohol and drugs on the night

A balaclava-clad man who attacked a stranger with a machete-style knife outside a pub in Nottinghamshire has been jailed.

Tyrone James stabbed Caleb Yemm at the Nags Head pub in Station Street, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, on 22 October.

The 41-year-old's victim suffered life-changing injuries following the attack, which happened shortly before 01:00 GMT as the pub was closing.

James was jailed for eight years at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

He had been at the pub when an argument broke out between him and another group of men drinking there.

Life-saving surgery

The court heard James, of Skegby Road in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, told police he had been racially abused, while his wife had also been subject to "unpleasant behaviour".

He left the venue and returned about 45 minutes later wearing black clothes and a balaclava, with the 10-inch blade hidden in the waistband of his trousers.

Lisa Hardy, prosecuting, told the court James went on to punch one man and then hit Mr Yemm, before stabbing him three times to the lower back and left side of his body.

She said the latter suffered a fracture to his spine and serious injuries to his small and large bowel, which later led to him having life-saving surgery.

He escaped the scene and headed home until he was caught by police and arrested on Sunday evening.

Judge William Harbage accepted that neither of the men who were attacked had been the people who racially abused the attacker earlier in the night.

'Premeditated stabbing'

James previously pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Yemm, possessing a bladed weapon, and common assault on the other man.

Mitigating, James Horne KC said he had since expressed "strong feelings of remorse and shame" following the attack, and that he had said he was "truly sorry" for his "awful act".

But sentencing him, Judge Harbage told James: "This was a deliberate, premeditated stabbing. I accept there was a combination of factors that placed you under stress at the time of the offence, [but they] cannot be an excuse for what you did."

Following the sentencing, Nottinghamshire Police welcomed the jail term that was handed to him.

Det Insp James Oakton added: "This was a savage attack committed in front of a number of onlookers who were spilling out of a town centre pub."

Correction 27 April 2024: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Tyrone James had pleaded guilty to attempted murder.