Knife victim sees thug freed

Don Frame

October 22, 2008

| Submit Comments | Comments (16) | Previous | Next

Victim Richard Bielby-Sidlow

A YOUNG man stabbed in the back by a knife-wielding thug can't believe the teenager has been allowed to walk free.

Richard Bielby-Sidlow, 21, came just a centimetre from being paralysed.

He expected the thug to be locked up but a crown court judge gave him an `exceptional chance' and set him free with an 18-month community order.

The 16-year old from Failsworth, Oldham, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to wounding and being in possession of an offensive weapon. He was ordered to attend an intensive supervision and surveillance programme.

His mother, who stood with him in the dock, has been told to appear before Judge Jonathan Foster next month when he will be given a progress report on her son's behaviour.

The judge told him: "This was an example of the sort of behaviour that so appals the public: violence in a public place by youths, as they would see it, running amok.

"A knife was used, and a stabbing wound resulted. The almost inevitable consequence of such an act is custody. You are from a good home, however, and have no previous relevant convictions and you are in a good job and obviously respected by your employers.

"I expect there to be good reports when I see you again. If there aren't, I will have to consider the options. You should regard this as an exceptional chance for what was wanton behaviour on the day."

'Disappointed'

The court heard Mr Bielby-Sidlow, of Marlborough Drive, Failsworth, had done nothing to provoke the attack, in February, and the consequences could have been far worse.

Paul McDonald, prosecuting, said Mr Bielby-Sidlow had been walking to a Tesco supermarket with a friend when three youths began to shout to them.

He said the teenager challenged him, saying `What are you looking at?' in a confrontational way. He then approached him, repeating his question.

Mr Bielby-Sidlow did not reply and turned away, but then felt a sharp pain in his back. He turned, and saw the teenager holding a knife. The youth was identified from CCTV footage.

Mr Bielby-Sidlow, who works at Meadow View Fish Farm, in Droylsden, said after hearing the sentence: "I am very disappointed. We had been told that he was likely to get custody and that is what he deserved.

"I was told by a doctor when I was taken to hospital after the attack that I was just a centimetre away from paralysis. If the blade had gone in just slightly the other way, it could have cut my spinal cord."

| Submit Comments | Comments (16) | Previous | Next

Showing comments 1 to 16 and replies | View All

PW, Manchester (22/10/2008 at 07:18)

Sounds like a typical nasty piece of work. I think the Judge should not allow his emotions to cloud his judgment. Also, it doesn't do very much to deter present knifing problems. There should be no excuses. He shouldn't have even had a knife in the first place.

rlfan, greater manchester (22/10/2008 at 12:46)

can this judge not see tv/newspapr reports on a daily occurance that the public & the government want to put a stop to knife crime, & this is how the judge implemnets a hard line...

Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (22/10/2008 at 12:50)

"The judge told him: "This was an example of the sort of behaviour that so appals the public: violence in a public place by youths".

Not apalled enough it would seem! why was this thug allowed to get away with it, it is getting to the stage where vigilantes will be the only way of issuing punishment and therein lies chaos and gangland culture, can't the athorities see that?

Sack the judge and make all future judges subject to being voted in by the public so we can voice our concerns with the pen

jem8805 (22/10/2008 at 13:05)

And people wonder why there's no trust in the system. This is a prime example of injustice.

Sick of this Government, MADchester (22/10/2008 at 13:07)

'you are in a good job and obviously respected by your employers'

Perhaps your 'employers' should think twice about the kind of person they have employed? Carrying a knife around, did your employers know you do this? If I employed you, you would be straight out of the door.

Black Flag (22/10/2008 at 13:09)

Mad Welsh Scotsman: "Sack the judge and make all future judges subject to being voted in by the public"

Absolutely not. You get your voice heard by voting for politicians and they make the laws. Judges are there to apply those laws impartially and that will be compromised if they have to start pandering to the perceived public opinion in order to get elected or avoid being sacked.

Trueman (22/10/2008 at 13:12)

This is an absolute joke.

Pippa, Manchester (22/10/2008 at 13:17)

So Judge Jonathan Foster, you are quite happy that you have released this thug onto the streets of Manchester.....I do hope that you will be vindicated in your philanthropy. Should this teenager who can't be named (why I wonder?) offend again, I do hope you too will be standing in the dock with him charged with assisting.

Cappa (22/10/2008 at 13:20)

Wot utter crap......this teenager must be havin a good laff.
This so called Judges chart probably goes like this:
Stab once = get a tellin off
Stab twice = ooh lets give em the benefit of the doubt
Stab every other day = maybe a custodial - depends if I'm having a bad day
Kill some1 = hmmm, 12 months jail possibly

GET A GRIP JUDGE....U WOULDNT BE SO LENIENT IF IT WAS A MEMBER OF UR FAMILY

L L Fontelroy (22/10/2008 at 13:23)

What the evening news have faile dto mentio is that the boy in question was a regular viewer of Blue Peter, always kept his bedroom tidy, had a bath once a week and learnt to ride a bicycle when he was 5 years old. All of thesed things have contributed to him not receiving a jail sentance, come on folks, he's a good lad and stabbing this man was just an act of bravado in front of his fellow chums whom I'm sure also take baths regularly.

JTC Formerley JimC (22/10/2008 at 13:39)

God who would want to live in a house with Black Flag. He talks so much drivel.

lizard (22/10/2008 at 13:50)

"The 16-year old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons,". This has to stop!, commit adult crime, then receive adult punishment, Let them grow up in the real world instead of encouraging them to continue living in the safe/protected world of crime, which is what it is because of the lack of law enforcement from judges and law makers. Name this trash, we need to know who and where this scum operate for our own safety.

Black Flag (22/10/2008 at 15:25)

Coming from you, JTC, I'll take that as a complement.

Longshots Wife (22/10/2008 at 17:32)

They named the 15yr old lad mentioned in the other story on here but they cant name this lad who is OLDER? Huh?

It's just madness. No consistency at all.

JJ against Leese's Tax! (22/10/2008 at 18:21)

British Justice at its best!!!

Had richard turned around and stabbed the little scumbag, I bet he be serving a custodial!

Chris Green, Chorlton-cum-Hardy (22/10/2008 at 21:34)

The judge may have been following orders? The prisons are already full so the places are now being rationed and this may be the result.

Gordon Brown has been holding the purse strings for the past eleven years....

()

Report

News