A man has been jailed for 29 months after carrying out a knife attack in a Tesco car park in Stoke-on-Trent. Pavel Stefanovic, 39, of Charnwood Road, Meir, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and possession of bladed articles following the incident on December 30, 2022.
Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Stefanovic was approached by a fellow Lithuanian shopper inside the Meir Park store. The conversation turned aggressive, and the two men went outside. Stefanovic produced a Stanley knife and slashed at the victim, causing cuts to his hand, arm, legs, and nose. The victim's wife screamed as the attack unfolded.
Prosecutor Jamie Scott said Stefanovic threatened to cut the couple into pieces and kill them. The incident lasted over 20 minutes, during which Stefanovic brandished the knife and continued making threats. Police arrived and arrested him; he was found with a second Stanley knife in his pocket.
The victim required hospital treatment for multiple wounds, including a 2cm laceration to his left hand and a puncture wound to his right forearm. The court also heard that Stefanovic had a previous conviction in Lithuania for grievous bodily harm involving a knife, for which he served five years in prison.
Judge Richard McConaghy described the offending as serious, noting the persistent nature of the attack and the distress caused to the public. He stated that only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate. The sentence means Stefanovic is likely to be deported.
