Two men have been jailed for a brutal robbery in which a petrol station worker was stabbed five times following a dispute over a meal deal. Daniel Davis, 26, and John Wilson, 38, carried out the savage attack on a lone employee at a BP garage in Darlington in the early hours of January 8.
Attack Details
The court at Teesside Crown Court heard that Davis and Wilson, who were previously unknown to each other, arrived at the petrol station around 1am. Davis approached the night hatch requesting a meal deal, and Wilson appeared shortly after. Both were heavily intoxicated and began hammering on the night hatch window.
Prosecutor Sam Ponniah said the victim fetched the meal deal, but the defendants caused difficulties, asking him to go back and forth. The worker told them they were wasting his time and went to serve other customers, which angered Davis and Wilson. They made death threats and forced their way through an unlocked door.
The Assault
Davis produced a lock-knife, and the victim armed himself with a metal pole used for lifting manhole covers. The men wrestled the pole from him and struck him repeatedly, punching him and beating him with the pole. Davis forced the worker to the ground, and during the struggle, stabbed him five times.
One stab wound punctured his liver, two were on his right arm, one struck his sternum, and a significant wound to his left arm required plastic surgery. Wilson fled with alcohol, and Davis stole an entire vape stand. The victim, originally from Sri Lanka, sustained permanent scarring and may return to his home country.
Sentencing
Davis, of The Stray, Darlington, was serving a community order for drink driving and had 10 previous convictions. Wilson, of no fixed address, was on bail and had 78 previous convictions, many for violent crime. Both pleaded guilty to robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Judge Francis Laird KC classified both as dangerous offenders. Davis received eight years and three months with a three-year extended licence. Wilson was sentenced to nine years with a three-year extended licence.
