A young boy who thought he had been punched "felt like he was going to die" after realising he had been stabbed.
Officers were called to reports of a stabbing at Our Lady of Compassion Formby Parish, on School Lane, on Tuesday, March 8 last year. At the scene a 16-year-old boy was found with serious injuries and taken to hospital for treatment.
Sonny Collins and Micky Teany, both 19, appeared before the court on Thursday after being charged in connection to the incident. Liverpool Crown Court heard how the schoolboy had travelled to Formby to find his brother who had had his bike stolen earlier that same evening by the two men.
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Upon finding Collins and Teany riding the stolen bike, believed to be worth around £1,500, the teen confronted the then-18-year-olds. Louise McCloskey, prosecuting, said Teany had produced a knife and Collins began acting aggressively.
She told the court, while the young boy was distracted, he "felt a sharp pain" in his back before blood was "tricking down" his side. An ambulance was called and it was found the victim had suffered a 4cm knife wound, which punctured his lung.
Ms McCloskey added: "He said he felt like he was going to die." The 16-year-old spent three days in the major trauma unit at hospital and required stitches.
At court on Thursday, Judge Recorder Browne KC said the 16-year-old had shouted "that's my brother's bike" after spotting the two men riding it. Teany had then produced a knife. He added that Teany, who was convicted at trial, claimed self defence but this was "rejected" by the jury.
Recorder Browne added: "This was an entirely unprovoked stabbing in broad daylight on a residential street."
The court had heard how, less than two weeks prior to the stabbing, Collins and Teany, sent text messages to each other pre-planning the robbery of "vulnerable school children" who had finished school for the day.
The pair came across two young schoolboys and said they would be taking the bike, producing a knife when the young boy said no. After taking the mountain bike, the victim called his mum who then called police and his older brother, who travelled to Formby to find him.
The men, who are both fathers, appeared before the court supported by their families.
Recorder Browne KC said there had been clear pre-planning to the incident in March 2022, adding this "was no opportunistic robbery". He said: "This was a pre-planned street robbery in broad daylight."
He went on to say he believes Teany has not shown genuine remorse as he still attempts to downplay the incident, and told Collins: "You also demonstrate you don't accept your wrongdoing."
Collins, of Maple Close, Bootle, was given a custodial sentence of six years. Teany, of Hawthorne Drive, Kirkby, was given a total custodial sentence of nine years.
Recorder Browne KC added: "It's tragic to see young men before this court", however he added those who carry knives on the street can expect "substantial sentences of detention".
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