November 2010 Archives

A TEENAGER who 'was within an ace of killing' a South Harrow man when he stabbed him multiple times in the street was last week sentenced to two years in prison.
Harrow Crown Court heard how 18-year-old Elias Dehimi chased his victim Scott Blundell through the streets of South Harrow on August 4, this year, before puncturing his lung, slashing his wrists and stabbing him just inches from his heart.
Mr Blundell, 19, required repeated surgery following the attack in Treganna Avenue, including heart operations, stitches to his face and staples in his head, and described in a victim statement how he realised he 'was lucky to be alive'.
Although the victim refused to report the incident to police, officers investigated the incident and Dehimi, of Shaftesbury Avenue, South Harrow, pleaded guilty to one count of wounding.
It emerged that Mr Blundell had gone out with his brother and a few friends after discovering he had earned an interview to be a lifeguard.
Later on in the night a Police Community Support Officer overheard Mr Blundell say 'I'm going to do something violent' before he was chased down the street by Dehimi and others who were head shouting 'grab him'.
Fearing for his safety Mr Blundell ran and picked up a glass bottle to defend himself.
When he stopped running, assuming he had lost his attacker, Dehimi was seen drawing something from his waistband and witnesses heard the victim shout 'I have been stabbed'.
Speaking about the attack during Dehimi's sentencing on Friday, November 12, Judge David Mole QC, said: "During this attack your victim had a stab wound that almost pierced his heart he required extensive and repeated surgery and you were within an ace of killing him.
"I accept that your victim was armed but you went much further than self defence and this is no excuse.
"This is so serious that only an immediate custodial sentence would be appropriate."
Whilst Mr Blundell was in hospital undergoing extensive surgery the Observer spoke to his mum Lorraine Blundell who said: "He has had to have two heart surgeries and to be honest he was minutes away from not making it.
"We are very grateful to the police officers who were on the scene straight away and acted to save his life by minutes."

PAY-and-display machines could be installed at a South Harrow public car park to help raise £80,000 a year for the public coffers.
Harrow Council believes it could get away with charging drivers to park at the small but popular free car park behind Northolt Road Community Centre in Northolt Road and the 30 current spaces could be redrawn as 40 bays to make the site a little more lucrative.