A petrol station worker who suffered five stab wounds during a robbery over a meal deal has described how he lay bleeding on the floor fearing for his life. Daniel Davis, 26, and John Wilson, 38, were both jailed for their roles in the brutal attack at the BP forecourt on High Northgate in Darlington.
The attack
The incident occurred at approximately 12:50am on Thursday, January 8. Davis and Wilson, who were strangers to each other, arrived at the petrol station at roughly the same time and decided to carry out a joint robbery. The dispute began over a meal deal, with Davis becoming violent after a disagreement about whether the victim was selecting the 'correct sandwich'. Wilson, who 'happened upon the scene', then joined in the attack and theft.
The victim was repeatedly stabbed with a lock-knife and also struck with a metal pole. One stab wound pierced his liver, two struck his right arm, and a further wound penetrated his sternum. A 'significant wound' was also inflicted on his left arm, which required plastic surgery. The attackers fled with stolen alcohol and vapes, leaving the victim behind the counter in a pool of blood.
Victim's statement
In his impact statement, the victim said: 'What happened that night was awful and something I will never forget. The two males attacked me for no reason. When they left and I was laid on the floor bleeding, I did not know if I was going to die.' He added: 'During this incident I sustained numerous injuries. While these have begun to heal, the scars I am left with will remind me of what happened for the rest of my life. Despite this, I hold no ill feeling towards the two males responsible. In fact, I feel sorry for them. They must now deal with the consequences of their actions.'
Rescue and investigation
A member of the public heard the victim's desperate pleas for assistance and alerted the police. Officers arrived quickly and administered crucial first aid before ambulance crews took over. The perpetrators were identified using the garage's CCTV footage, and both men were arrested at their Darlington addresses shortly after the assault.
Sentencing
On Tuesday, Davis, of The Stray, Darlington, and Wilson, of no fixed address, appeared at Teesside Crown Court for sentencing on charges of robbery and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Both had admitted to the offences. The court was told that both men were 'heavily intoxicated' and had repeatedly hammered on the night hatch window.
Davis received an 11-year and three-month sentence, consisting of eight years and three months behind bars, followed by three years on extended licence. Wilson was handed a 12-year term, comprising nine years' imprisonment, with three years on extended licence. At the time of the attack, Davis was serving a community order for drink driving and had four prior convictions for 10 offences. Wilson was on bail and had 34 previous convictions for 78 offences, many relating to violent conduct.
Police comment
Detective Sergeant Subhaan Ali, of Durham Constabulary, who headed the investigation, said: 'First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to the victim in this case who has shown extraordinary strength and mental fortitude throughout our investigation and subsequent court process.' He added: 'Davis and Wilson's actions that morning were utterly appalling and have left the victim with serious physical and mental scars. I am grateful to the member of the public who came to help the victim after hearing his cries for help, and to the attending officers who carried out vital first aid at the scene.'
'We will never tolerate people who inflict violence on anyone in our communities. I hope this sentence sends a warning that anyone who commits violent offences will be relentlessly pursued and put before the courts. I hope this sentence provides the victim with some comfort that justice has been served, and I wish him the very best for his future.'
