Yob stabbed me 8 times, I died 3 times
Victim backs SOS plea
THIS horrific knife scar across a teenager's back is a mark of the senseless violence stalking Britain's streets.
Lloyd Dawson-Smith "died" THREE times and lost 15 pints of blood after he was stabbed EIGHT times when a minor argument spiralled out of control.
Doctors warned his parents he would not survive but against the odds he did - thanks to his will to live and the skill of doctors.
Last night, as he backed the News of the World's Save Our Streets campaign calling for tougher sentences for knife thugs. Lloyd, 19, told how he almost lost his life just yards from his home because of a row "over nothing".
Lifting his shirt to reveal his jagged scars he said: "My heart stopped three times in the operating theatre. It's a miracle that I'm alive."
Lloyd had gone to a nightclub with a group of lads, including his attackers. Later a scuffle broke out outside a takeaway.
Vicious Michael Swansborough, 19, and Trevor Moore, 21, armed themselves with a flick knife and an axe.
Then they lay in wait for Lloyd as he returned to his home in Ashford, Kent, and launched a frenzied attack. The shocking scene was captured on CCTV.
On Friday Swansborough, who had consumed 25 PINTS of beer and cider and taken cocaine, was sentenced to an indefinite jail term for attempted murder with a recommendation that he serve at least five years.
Moore was jailed for 6½ half years for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having a weapon but is expected to be out in less than three.
Last night Lloyd said: "I can't understand why they didn't get more.
"It's a miracle I didn't die. It could easily have been a murder trial. If Swansborough behaves himself he could be out in five years. It just doesn't seem right. "
Lloyd's mother Janice, 58, who found him at 3am in a pool of blood 20 yards from her home, also backs the News of the World campaign to tackle violent street crime.
She said: "I'm sick of seeing teenagers let off with lenient sentences. They just go out and do it again. Where is the deterrent?
"Teenagers need to know that if they carry a knife they will be caught and punished."
This article has 9 comments
I agree with rory, bring back hanging/death sentences.
By sam. Posted June 22 2009 at 1:21 PM.
Talk is cheap and so it seems murder and attempted murder. How can these paltry sentences be a deterrent. It wasn't a fair fight, they were equipped with flick knife and an axe, they went with the intention of GBH or murder. If it hadn't been for the skills of the paramedics and doctors then the outcome could have been so different. Why won't these judges wake up to the fact that victims and their families want to see proper punishment. Why don't they talk to the victims and their families and see what they have been through, the pain, trauma and the nightmares of their attacks. Then ask them what punishment would be right and then work on that ratio. What would happen if it was a member of the judges family.!!!!!!!!!!1 Let the punishment properly fit the crime. Build more prisons if necessary.
By Karen 51. Posted June 21 2009 at 2:20 PM.
less talking and more action, 5 years of 3 cooked meals a day sky tv clothes washed, yes that realy is a deterrent. Lets sort it out once and for all bring back hanging and let the scum know how it feels to be frightended and helpless.
By rory white. Posted June 21 2009 at 10:23 AM.
"indefinite jail term" surely that should mean indefinite not 5 years!! which will more likely be 2,what an absolute joke!!
We really should have national service 2 years for every boy to do by the time they turn 22, if these stupid boys wanna play tough guys send them on the front line, let them kill people there not here!! surely that or just bring back hanging?! im up for that
By Zoe. Posted June 21 2009 at 10:35 AM.
There is no deterrent!
We have a legal system that supports those on trial.
We have courts whose hands are tied by politicians.
We have politicians who have been proven to be scheming, selfish and dishonest.
We have a police force who get called thugs everytime they try to overpower a situation using reasonable force.
I do fear for my childrens future in such a society, I think self defence and emigration will be a priority for them. This country is finished, well done Gordon Brown and all those before you!!
By Judge Dread. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:52 AM.
left the uk to give my children a better life ....regain the brittian that we were all proud of.
By LionHeart. Posted June 21 2009 at 9:35 AM.
Bring back hanging, I am fed up paying taxes to keep this sort of scum!
By steve tea. Posted June 21 2009 at 8:29 AM.
25 pints of beer and cider? haha yeah right ok and he managed to attack that like with no problem? sure he did, i guess he told the court thats how much he drank, its a well known fact that men always exaggerate on how much they drunk
By Lloyd. Posted June 21 2009 at 12:04 AM.
when is the talking going to stop,and some kind of action taken.before more young persons are injured or killed.and also the parents or gardians have to take some responceability, because they must asked themselves why there son or daughter are carrying knives ect.
By cj. Posted June 20 2009 at 11:10 PM.