A pensioner has been jailed after stabbing a man repeatedly with a flick knife after a row about a pub pool table.
Patrick Dynan, 71, was drinking in the Broad Green Tavern when he argued with Terry Santry, saying the pool table was not level. He then produced a knife and stabbed Mr Santry at least three times after following him to a nearby chicken shop, reports MyLondon.
Mr Santry staggered on to the pavement before collapsing and was in hospital for eight days afterwards. Dynan, of Wellington Road, in Broad Green, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon on Monday, April 24 and was caged for 40 months.
The court heard the two men had been drinking at the pub on London Road on April 14, 2022.
During the argument the bar manager tried to intervene and offer a spirit level to assess the table, trying to calm Dynan.
Dynan assured him “I’d never do anything in your pub”, which Judge Neil Flewitt, KC, said was a “reference to causing trouble”.
Mr Santry then exited the pub to buy food from a local chicken shop while Dynan scarpered back to his home to get the knife.
Dynan approached his victim and stabbed him from behind at least three times in the back while shouting “you are f****d, you are f****d”.
Jonathon Loades, prosecuting, said: “The offence was committed in broad daylight, it was a sunny evening in that part of South London and there were members of the public walking outside the shop. It was clearly visible and there was also another customer inside the shop also in the process of ordering their meal.”
Emergency crews were alerted at 5.46pm and Mr Santry was taken to hospital for surgery to his spleen and bowel and has been left with long-lasting pain between his shoulder blades.
In his victim impact statement, he said that he struggled with “recurring thoughts of the incident, hearing his voice and struggling to sleep” and that he had felt “violated” after the attack.
Meanwhile, Dynan was ushered back to the pub following the attack and was swiftly arrested.
He was heard to say “That’s it, I’m going away for the rest of my life. My life is over,” as well apologising to the landlord and pointing out that he hadn’t done it in his pub.
When another customer expressed concern for the victim, Dynan responded “f*** him”.
He later made further admissions to the police but claimed that he had discovered the knife in his coat pocket, a claim which the judge rejected.
Dynan admitted the charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon and was acquitted by a jury of the more serious charge of attempted murder.
He had no previous convictions for violence and has been attending courses to treat his alcohol addiction while in custody.
Sentencing him to 40 months, Judge Flewitt, KC, said: “I do regard the decision to go home and arm yourself with the knife and follow Mr Santry into the takeaway signifies a significant degree of premeditation and planning.
“I do regard this as a highly dangerous weapon and although it wasn’t a prolonged assault, it was persistent. Having stabbed Mr Santry in the back, you stabbed him on a further three occasions.”
Mr Santry attended court, stood and yelled “You’re a lucky boy” as the end of sentencing.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
