A teenager stabbed two men after they hurled "ugly and shameful" racial abuse at him and chased him through Liverpool city centre.
Anthony Sweeney shouted "if I catch you, you black b*****d, I'm going to kill you" as he and Raymond Watkins pursued Ibrahim Sarjo through Queen Square Bus Station. The then 18-year-old subsequently pulled a knife from his pocket and left the pair with wounds which kept them in hospital for more than a week.
Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Friday, that the incident occurred at around 7.30pm on Friday, June 17. Frank Dillon, prosecuting, described how "it was in broad daylight and in clear sight of many members of the public present".
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He added: "The incident was started when the defendant was, without any provocation, racially abused by Anthony Sweeney - which prompted a verbal altercation. The defendant walked away from this, but was pursued by Mr Sweeney, who called him a 'f****t'.
"Mr Watkins initially appeared to attempt to call Mr Sweeney back, but then he also followed the defendant. The defendant continued to walk away, but shortly after the verbals a fight ensured between the three men.
"During this fight, the defendant inflicted the injuries on Mr Sweeney and Mr Watkins with the knife that he was carrying. During the fight, the defendant was also racially abused by Mr Watkins - who called him a n****r."
CCTV and mobile phone footage of the altercation was played to the court. It showed Sajro, of Elaine Street in Toxteth, walking past Mr Sweeney and Mr Watkins before the initial confrontation.
Two women heard the former tell him "the girls like white boys better than black" before calling him a "n****r". The teen, who is now aged 19, walked away.
But Mr Sweeney could be seen continuing to shout at Sarjo, repeating "come here then you f****t" several times. He set off in pursuit of the defendant and Mr Watkins followed, dropping the items he was carrying to the floor as the violence ensued.
Sarjo grabbed hold of the knife with his right hand and Mr Sweeney kicked out at him. An unknown male attempted to separate the group, but Sarjo struck Mr Sweeney to the ground.
He and Mr Watkins then "came together", while he kicked out at Mr Sweeney as he lay on the floor. Mr Watkins pushed Sarjo away, and he ran off chased by Mr Sweeney.
A man reported that he had said "if i catch you, you black b*****d, I'm going to kill you" at this point. Mr Watkins dropped to the floor, and was heard to shout "n****r".
Another witness heard him say "I'll get you, you n****r". Sarjo managed to escape, but was later traced and arrested.
Mr Sweeney and Mr Watkins later told police they had "been to Liverpool for the day", and visited a museum, shopped for clothes and went for food. They had "been drinking but were not drunk".
Both sustained serious injuries, and are said to suffer from flashbacks. Mr Sweeney was left with a stab wound close to his heart and lost a significant amount of blood, remaining in hospital for seven days.
Mr Watkins was discharged after 10 days of treatment for his puncture wounds. Mr Dillon said they had subjected Sarjo to "ugly and shameful racist abuse", adding: "Neither of the men assisted with how the altercation started."
The knife was never recovered. But Sarjo, who was defended by Julian Nutter, said he had taken this from a young teen and had intended to hand this into the police before using it.
He has no previous convictions, is in employment and was described as being from a "good family". Sarjo admitted two counts of wounding and possession of a bladed article in a public place and was jailed for 18 months, as well as being told to pay a victim surcharge.
Sentencing, Judge Judith Bond said: "You were only 18 when this happened, and I bear in mind your young age. You were the victim of racial taunting - it was an offence that was provoked.
"Sadly, it is inevitable that the sentence of imprisonment must be imposed. You had a knife and violently used it on two people.
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