'Psychotic' Telford man asked victim for a cigarette - then stabbed him in the eye when he refused

Craig Hull, of no fixed abode, left his victim with a 5cm-deep gash under his right eye and a 4cm deep cut in his arm, after the attack on October 30, 2021.

The 43-year-old had already admitted a charge of wounding and one charge of being in possession of a bladed article when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard that the attack occurred at a home of multiple occupancy in Sutton Hill in Telford, where Hull often visited to see a female friend.

Mr Edward Sousby, prosecuting, said the defendant had often “begged” cigarettes from one of the other occupants of the house but on the day of the attack, the other tenant refused.

“This led to a bad-tempered response,” Mr Sousby said.

He told the court that a fight had broken out on the doorstep of the property that led to Hull eventually storming off, shouting: “I am going to stab you up”.

Mr Sousby said that Hull returned a short while later brandishing a kitchen knife, and another fight broke out on the doorstep.

In attempting to defend himself, the victim threw “three or four punches”, Mr Sousby said but the blows “missed”.

“Hull then stabbed him in the face and the eye,” he said.

He said that the kitchen knife caused a 5cm deep wound under the victim's eye, which required stitches, and a 4cm deep wound on his arm.

Defending Hull, Mr Rob Edwards, told the court that the defendant had “significant mental health” issues, and the offence was conducted after he had failed to take his medication, which resulted in Hull becoming “psychotic”.

Hull had said in a statement that his his victim had been the “initial aggressor” and that he only returned to stab him because he “wanted to win the fight”.

Judge Anthony Lowe described the attack as “totally disproportionate” and told Hull his defence “took him nowhere”.

“If somebody comes to my place with a knife it is no surprise that that person then takes precautionary action,” the judge said. “You also stabbed him when he was down on one knee, when he was offering to you no considerable threat.

“And stabbing somebody in the face poses significantly more risk to other areas of the body,” he added.

He described Hull, who he had heard had numerous previous convictions including for violence and for repeatedly threatening to stab people, was “psychotic” and a “danger to the public” due to his habit of failing to take his medication.

He jailed him for four years and 10 months and told the defendant that he would be placed on an extended licence period of seven years and 10 months, meaning he will remain on licence for a further three years after his sentence has been served "to protect the public".