Teenager, 19, who hailed taxi to stab 16-year-old boy with martial arts-style knife handed custodial term

A teenager who hailed a taxi to take him to stab a 16-year-old boy with a martial arts-style knife has been given a five-and-a-half-year custodial term.

Lewis Brown, 19, struck his victim in the chest with a curved Karambit blade, a weapon used by practitioners of deadly Filipino fighting systems.

The High Court in Glasgow heard how Brown had earlier taken a cab to the scene of the attack in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was standing waiting for a bus.

The court heard how Brown had his face covered during the incident in a bid to protect his identity. However, he was caught after leaving a soft drink bottle at the crime scene.

Detectives recovered his DNA from the bottle and this helped him gather the evidence to bring him to justice.

Brown, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting the youngster to his severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life at a hearing earlier this year.

Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain a background report.

On Friday, Brown listened via video link, and heard judge Lord Cubie tell him he was being given a custodial disposal.

Lord Cubie added: “The Victim Impact Statement makes it clear the impact that your actions had on the victim.

“It made him anxious and depressed – he had to drop out of college for a year – these were because of your actions.

“There must be a sentence of detention imposed on you.”

At earlier proceedings, the court heard how the attack took place on September 13, 2023.

The court heard how Brown had got a taxi at lunchtime and asked to be dropped off near the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service building in Johnstone.

Prosecutor Neil McCulloch said: “The driver observed during the journey that Brown had his hood up and a scarf covering his face.”

When Brown got out the cab, he was described as “sprinting away”.

The victim was still at the bus stop when he clocked Brown and an accomplice running at him. He feared he was going to be attacked and backed off onto the road.

Mr McCulloch said Brown still had his face covered and was clutching the potentially deadly Karambit-style knife. He swung the blade, but initially missed. The victim managed to punch Brown to try and get him away.

The thug swiped the weapon again before eventually stabbing the boy in the chest. Mr McCulloch said: “One of the males then shouted: ‘Let’s get out of here before the police come’.”

Paramedics arrived after a concerned witness dialled 999. The boy was bleeding heavily from a single stab wound. The victim had suffered a punctured lung, but was fortunately able to leave hospital three days later after treatment.

The court heard his injury was potentially life threatening had he not got to hospital. He is still, however, left scarred for life. Brown had fled from police having initially been spotted shortly after the stabbing.

Mr McCulloch then explained: “He was confirmed to be the individual responsible following recovery of his DNA from a soft drink bottle discarded at the scene.”

On Friday, defence advocate John Scullion KC said that his client had experienced “adverse childhood” experiences.

Mr Scullion also said his client had once abused drugs but had now stopped.

He added: “There is a background to the case. The accused and his family had been targeted in their own home by individuals in the local area.

“This had caused much anxiety in the family unit.

“He has expressed remorse for his actions.”

Lord Cubie told Brown that if he hadn’t pleaded guilty to the charge, he’d have received a custodial term of seven years and four months.