This is the image of Luke Winkworth who stabbed a man in the stomach with a large kitchen knife. Nottinghamshire Police released his mushot after he was locked up on Friday (May 12) for seven-and-a-half years after admitting wounding with intent and possessing the knife.
He received a concurrent sentence for dangerous driving and handed a driving ban - for offences before the stabbing. Winkworth was involved in the attack with Lewis Crossland, 18, of Welbeck Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield. Crossland admitted the wounding with intent charge and having the knife and was sentenced to five years.
The victim had been to KT Chinese in Outram Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, with a friend on October 29 when they went outside. By chance the defendants, Crossland and Winkworth, 21, of North Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, passed by.
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Words were exchanged between them before the victim and his friend went back inside the restaurant. But Crossland and Winkworth exchanged glances - Crossland gesturing with a flick of the head towards Winkworth.
Gareth Gimson, prosecuting, said it was gesturing from Crossland to Winkworth - "basically he thought he should go and confront the two males". Winkworth marched back to the restaurant followed by Crossland.
The victim was stabbed in the stomach by Winkworth, who was mentally unwell, before they left. Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Matt Scott, who oversaw the investigation, said: “This was an utterly shocking and unprovoked attack on a family man who was simply enjoying a meal with a friend.
“Having been approached by Crossland and Winkworth in the street, the victim and his friend commendably went back into the restaurant as they did not wish to engage in any sort of violent disorder.
“Crossland and Winkworth, on the other hand, were clearly looking for trouble and so entered the restaurant, where they subjected the victim to a sickening assault that almost cost him his life.
“The attack meant he spent many weeks in hospital and his wife and children were told he might not survive.
“This has had the most unimaginable impact of the victim and his family, as well as the victim’s friend who witnessed the stabbing.
“Needless to say, I am very pleased to see both Crossland and Winkworth face justice for their actions that night.
“They are exceptionally lucky this was not a murder case and I hope they both reflect hard on their actions.
“I also hope these convictions provide some comfort to the victim and his family, whilst reassuring people that Nottinghamshire Police takes violent crime extremely seriously and will always strive to put offenders before the courts.”
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