Teens sentenced over knife attack at Burbage football match

Two teenagers have been sentenced in court after admitting their part in an incident at the end of a football match in Burbage which saw a player threatened with a zombie knife.

On Sunday 22 March, the match was just ending when a 17-year-old boy who was playing was approached by a player from the opposition team and slapped across the face. 

The victim sustained a cut to his lip and swelling to the face. 

Shortly afterwards another teenager went on to the pitch and pulled out a ‘Rambo’ style knife, he was seen to be making swinging motions with the knife towards the victim. 

Following an investigation by Leicestershire Police, two 17-year-old youths, who can’t be named for legal reasons, were charged.

At a hearing yesterday on Monday 27th July, at Leicester Youth Court, the defendant carrying the knife pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place.

He was sentenced to a Youth Referral Order for 12 months and he will be the subject of a restraining order for 12 months. He was also issued with a depravation order for the zombie style knife and ordered to pay costs.

The second defendant pleaded guilty to common assault by beating. He will also be the subject of a restraining order for 12 months, a Youth Referral Order for four months and ordered to pay compensation.

The court heard how Temporary Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, who was off-duty at the time, witnessed the the incident 

He ran across the pitch and shouted at the suspect to drop the knife and made him aware he was a police officer, he then proceeded to chase the suspect still holding the very large knife out of the ground. 

David Sandall pursued the suspect with the assistance of some other members of the public, including his father, a retired police officer.

He contacted the Contact Management Department and relayed the incident to them as he was running through Burbage. 

He arrested the suspect, who had dropped the large knife nearby, but was found in possession of a further smaller knife and detained him with his father until officers arrived at the scene. 

Speaking after the case concluded T/CC Sandall said:

“This incident could have had far worse consequences and luckily no one was more seriously injured. I know that many police officers in Leicestershire and up and down the country, on or off duty, would have also intervened and placed themselves in a position to protect the young people and children on the park.

“It is the brave members of the public that helped give chase and protect others, without a thought for their own safety that deserve our real thanks. For them to step forward to help prevent people being harmed and protect the young people was extremely brave. 

“This was a traumatic incident for the victim and everyone who witnessed what happened, many were children. 

“There is no place for knives on our streets, the defendant chose to carry a knife that day and he had no qualms about using it to cause harm and threaten the victim. My hope now is that they can get the support and intervention they need to help prevent them commit future criminal offences that place others and themselves in such danger. 

“There are always consequences from our actions and I hope this deters them and others from this type of behaviour.” 

Following the conviction the 17-year-old victim’s mother, said:

“Myself and my family would like to sincerely thank the quick thinking of the off-duty police officer, David Sandall, and the wider public whose actions that day were both brave and commendable. Without your intervention we may well have been telling a different story today. We are eternally grateful to you all.”

Detective Constable Joe Elliott was the investigating officer, he said:

“During the interview with the defendant who was carrying a knife, he denied swinging the weapon at the victim, when confronted with the evidence from several witnesses he refused to comment further. It was down to the weight of evidence from witnesses that the defendants had no choice but to plead guilty. 

I reiterate T/Chief Constable Sandall’s comments about the defendants reflecting on their actions and the consequences. This was a serious offence in a public place, which didn’t need to happen. A previous falling out is no excuse to carry a knife, if you carry such a weapon, you have the intention to use it. 

The force’s long-standing campaign to deter knife crime, Lives not Knives, continues to be a priority. We remain committed to reducing knife crime offences and aim to deter people from carrying knives and educate them about the dangers of doing so.” 

The members of public who assisted during the incident have been nominated for bravery awards.