Man jailed after Regent Circus stabbing

A man has today been jailed for 20 months following a stabbing in Swindon town centre last year.

Mason Swain, 19, of Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a knife at Swindon Crown Court last month and was today (04/09) sentenced to 20 months in prison with immediate effect.

His co-defendant, Summer Tsokos, 21, of Havisham Drive, had pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to an 18 month community order which entails 200 hours of unpaid work and costs of £340.

At 3.28am on May 26, 2019, we responded to a report of a stabbing outside the former Morrison’s store in Regent Circus, Swindon.

The victim, a man in his 20s, had suffered a stab wound to the back which had penetrated his right shoulder blade following a fight between two groups who had been on separate nights out.

He was taken to Great Western Hospital where he received stitches, but thankfully was not seriously injured and was discharged later the same day.

After going through CCTV footage Swain was identified as being responsible for the stabbing and he was later arrested.

Det Con Ross Duff, of Swindon CID, said: "This kind of behaviour and the use of a weapon to inflict injury in public will not be tolerated.

“Had the knife not struck the shoulder blade of the victim, this could have had far more serious consequences.

“This was a violent attack and we are pleased that a custodial sentence has been handed down as it sends out the message that actions like these have significant repercussions.

“We want to reassure the public that we take knife crime incredibly seriously and will always do our utmost to ensure that offenders are brought to justice.”