A man who played darts and hugged fellow customers in a pub minutes before returning in a balaclava and stabbing an innocent stranger has been jailed for 13 years. Diaz Paul left his victim fighting for his life and in an induced coma after repeatedly lunging at him with a knife. His attack only came to an end when he was repeatedly punched and restrained by members of the public and staff.
Attack at North Park Tavern
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Tuesday that the victim, who the ECHO has chosen not to name, was drinking in the North Park Tavern on Stanley Road in Bootle on the evening of March 9 this year before Paul arrived at around 8pm. The 26-year-old defendant, who was said to be staying in a nearby Airbnb at the time, was shown on CCTV playing darts and shaking hands with other customers.
Jamie Baxter, prosecuting, described how there "did not appear to be any issue" and "all seemed well", with Paul seen leaving the bar and returning on several occasions during the night. Having left again at around 10pm, footage captured him walking towards his accommodation before arriving back at the pub around 15 minutes later wearing a balaclava and smoking a cigarette.
Victim's ordeal and impact
With Paul's "demeanour having changed noticeably", the complainant and landlord ushered him out of the bar. After he continued to bang on the front door, and being seen in possession of a knife, the two men went outside to challenge him. But Paul "almost straight away lunged at" the victim when he opened the door "not once but several times, making contact and stabbing him twice" but having "attempted to do so a lot more than the two effective wounds". Others present intervened by punching his assailant several times before they were able to drag him off the "gravely injured" man.
The complainant was rushed to hospital with two stab wounds to his abdomen. While one of these injuries was said to be "superficial", the other penetrated his stomach and led to "extensive surgery". In a statement read to the court on his behalf, he said: "I couldn't walk properly until around May 2026. As the sole carer for my mum, who has been diagnosed with dementia, this had a detrimental impact on my ability to care for her. The stabbing not only affected me but my wider family."
He added: "I've been left with a very large scar, running vertically down my stomach. It has, in some ways, left my stomach looking deformed. When I'm swimming, I can feel members of the public glaring at me. I suffer reoccurring nightmares seeing Diaz's face. I worry that image will never leave me."
Sentencing and judge's remarks
Paul, formerly of Bedford Road in Bootle, has no previous convictions. Martine Snowdon, defending, told the court: "He was 25 at the time of the offending. He is obviously of positive good character. Inevitably, therefore, this period on remand is his first experience in a custodial setting."
Paul was found guilty of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm by a jury following a trial but cleared of attempted murder. He had previously admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Wearing a grey Nike Air jumper in the dock, Paul was jailed for 13 years and handed an indefinite restraining order. He will be required to serve two thirds of this term in prison before being released on licence.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: "On the evening of the 9th of March this year, you went into North Park Tavern in Bootle. The CCTV at that bar captures your arrival and the events that unfolded that night." She added: "Why you did go back may never be clear. You accepted you were upset that [the victim] removed you from the bar without justification, despite the cigarette and the balaclava. As soon as that door opened, you began stabbing out at him."
The judge accepted the incident was "wholly out of character" and noted Paul was assessed as posing a medium risk of reoffending, working to ensure there will be no repeat of this.
