A 31-year-old man has been jailed for 20 years after being convicted
of attempted murder and two counts of wounding with intent after a
violent attack on three strangers in Yeovil in June 2015.
Lee Jeffries-Jones, of Yeovil, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Thursday 4 February 2016 to a total of 27 years, reduced by seven years in recognition of his early guilty plea.
His Honour Judge Tabor ordered Jeffries-Jones to serve a minimum of 10 years before being considered for parole.
HHJ Tabor praised the “dignity” shown by the victim and her family at the hearing, the “courage” of the man who tackled Jeffries-Jones and the “steadfastness” of the other victim.
In the incident on Sunday 28 June, Jeffries-Jones inflicted life-threatening injuries on a 17-year-old girl by stabbing her once in the back as she walked to visit a friend in King Arthur’s Drive.
The young woman was rushed to hospital by a passer-by is still receiving hospital treatment for her significant injuries.
After attacking the teenager, Jeffries-Jones approached a 29-year-old woman who was cleaning her car, with her young child playing nearby. When she saw Jeffries-Jones she told the child to run home. He then stabbed the woman in the arm, causing a significant wound, before she got back into her house.
Jeffries-Jones then approached a man who was putting his child into a car seat, and attacked him. Thankfully the knife broke. The man’s injuries were not serious and he was able to detain Jeffries-Jones until police arrived.
"We would like to thank them for their bravery"
Detective Inspector Sharon Card, who headed the investigation, said: “Lee Jeffries-Jones has been convicted of a cowardly, violent and unprovoked attack on three innocent strangers. Without the bravery of his third victim in detaining him and the prompt actions of the driver who took the most seriously injured victim to hospital, these attacks could have had tragic consequences.
“As it stands, Lee Jeffries-Jones’ actions have had a significant impact on the life of the victims and their families, including two young children who each witnessed a parent being attacked and especially upon the teenage girl who was the most seriously injured. We would like to thank them for their bravery throughout this ordeal which has enabled us to secure this verdict. We hope that now they can put this dreadful incident behind them.”
HHJ Tabor told Jeffries-Jones: “On the 28 June last year you had been released from prison for a period of about two months. You had ingested a cocktail of drugs, legal and illegal, and alcohol. Over a short period of time you attacked without any motive three entirely innocent members of the public. The effect has been devastating.”
"I forgive him ... he needs a lot of help"
The youngest victim was at court, supported by her family, to see Jeffries-Jones sentenced.
She said: “If there is one thing I have learnt in my life so far it’s
to never say that something wouldn’t or couldn’t happen to you, no
matter how crazy it sounds, because it can – when you’re least expecting
it. I am saved. And I forgive.”
She thanked everyone involved in helping her at the scene and getting her to hospital as well as the hospital staff, adding: “I am sad for him. I forgive him for what he did to me and I feel he needs a lot of help. He should get that help.”
Source; Country Gazette
Lee Jeffries-Jones, of Yeovil, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on Thursday 4 February 2016 to a total of 27 years, reduced by seven years in recognition of his early guilty plea.
His Honour Judge Tabor ordered Jeffries-Jones to serve a minimum of 10 years before being considered for parole.
HHJ Tabor praised the “dignity” shown by the victim and her family at the hearing, the “courage” of the man who tackled Jeffries-Jones and the “steadfastness” of the other victim.
In the incident on Sunday 28 June, Jeffries-Jones inflicted life-threatening injuries on a 17-year-old girl by stabbing her once in the back as she walked to visit a friend in King Arthur’s Drive.
The young woman was rushed to hospital by a passer-by is still receiving hospital treatment for her significant injuries.
After attacking the teenager, Jeffries-Jones approached a 29-year-old woman who was cleaning her car, with her young child playing nearby. When she saw Jeffries-Jones she told the child to run home. He then stabbed the woman in the arm, causing a significant wound, before she got back into her house.
Jeffries-Jones then approached a man who was putting his child into a car seat, and attacked him. Thankfully the knife broke. The man’s injuries were not serious and he was able to detain Jeffries-Jones until police arrived.
"We would like to thank them for their bravery"
Detective Inspector Sharon Card, who headed the investigation, said: “Lee Jeffries-Jones has been convicted of a cowardly, violent and unprovoked attack on three innocent strangers. Without the bravery of his third victim in detaining him and the prompt actions of the driver who took the most seriously injured victim to hospital, these attacks could have had tragic consequences.
“As it stands, Lee Jeffries-Jones’ actions have had a significant impact on the life of the victims and their families, including two young children who each witnessed a parent being attacked and especially upon the teenage girl who was the most seriously injured. We would like to thank them for their bravery throughout this ordeal which has enabled us to secure this verdict. We hope that now they can put this dreadful incident behind them.”
HHJ Tabor told Jeffries-Jones: “On the 28 June last year you had been released from prison for a period of about two months. You had ingested a cocktail of drugs, legal and illegal, and alcohol. Over a short period of time you attacked without any motive three entirely innocent members of the public. The effect has been devastating.”
"I forgive him ... he needs a lot of help"
The youngest victim was at court, supported by her family, to see Jeffries-Jones sentenced.
She thanked everyone involved in helping her at the scene and getting her to hospital as well as the hospital staff, adding: “I am sad for him. I forgive him for what he did to me and I feel he needs a lot of help. He should get that help.”
Source; Country Gazette
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