A TEENAGER who slashed a man with a knife before attempting rob him has been jailed for more than two years after claiming his victim was acting suspiciously and was going 'to detonate himself'.

Garmiah Raza has befriended the man in the days leading up to the attack as they shared Kurdish heritage, Teesside Crown Court heard.

However, the teenager turned on the man as they were walking through Holy Trinity Church in central Stockton, punching him to the face before pulling out the knife and demanding he hand over 'everything you have'.

Raza used the craft knife to slash at his victim causing lacerations to his arm and shoulder before he managed to escape and seek sanctuary in a nearby shop before calling for help.

Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said the attack had left the victim feeling nervous and self conscious about his scars.

He said: "Raza suddenly punched the victim to the head then pulled out a knife-like cutting tool, pointed it at the victim demanding 'everything you have'.

"Raza then slashed the victim with the tool, cutting his jacket, and causing wounds to his left arm and shoulder.

"The victim ran out of the park pursued by Raza, who threw the tool away, outside Adams Mini-Market, the victim took refuge in the shop and called his friend who arrived and recovered the tool and put it in a carrier bag to give to the police."

The Northern Echo: Garmiah RazaGarmiah Raza

In police interview Raza told officers he attacked in self defence as he believed the victim was acting suspiciously and was going to 'detonate himself' before he was attacked himself by the man.

Raza, of Norton Road, Norton, Stockton, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and grievous bodily harm following the incident on December 17, 2019.

Kate Barnes, in mitigation, accepted that her client had used the knife during the attempted robbery but urged the judge to treat the victim's impact statement with 'caution' and said the likelihood of Raza re-offending was low.

Recorder Dapinder Singh QC sentenced Raza to 28 months in prison for both offences telling the defendant that his attack had caused the victim 'devastation' and lasting medical conditions.

"The two of you had recently met and become acquaintances, suddenly, without any notice, you punched the victim to the head and pulled out an implement resembling a knife and demanded the victim give you everything," he said.

"This was a planned incident that occurred in an isolated location in the dark, you attempted to stop the victim escaping the attack by chasing him, although a crude attempt, you attempted to dispose of the weapon. The injuries and impact of the injuries are taken into account with the sentence."

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