Two involved in St Helens town centre stabbing attack behind bars

Jack Mather and Dillon Smith, both now 19, chased after their victim, along with a third man and attacked him in a darkened street.

Judge David Potter said that he sentenced them “on the basis you were involved in the attack during which someone, whom the prosecution cannot now identify, stabbed him repeatedly to the chest with a sharply bladed article.”

He said that it could not be said who had taken the weapon to the scene or laid a hand on the victim, Shantosh Surendra, but he was repeatedly stabbed and suffered a collapsed left lung.

He suffered one-centimetre lacerations but no life-threatening injuries and fortunately did not require surgery.

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Judge Potter pointed out that one of the group, which also included Harry Holcroft, used racist language towards the victim.

Mather, of Gerards Lane, Sutton Leach and Smith, of Lakemoor Close, Sutton, pleaded guilty to wounding during their trial. Smith also admitted possessing cocaine, ketamine and cannabis.

Meanwhile, Holcroft, of Lowfield Lane, Waterside Village, was found guilty of that charge by a jury.

Dillon and Smith were sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday (Image: Stock)

Gerald Baxter, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court at the sentencing hearing on Tuesday, June 11, that in the early hours of October 21 last year the victim was drinking in The Duke pub in the town centre and saw the defendants “giving him the side eye.”

When he left to get a taxi they followed him and he ran away but they caught up with him and he was kicked, punched and stabbed with a screwdriver, or something similar.

When the attack stopped he got up and found blood dripping down his back and arms and he felt dizzy. Fortunately, a passing police patrol spotted him and they stopped and he was taken to Aintree Hospital.

Jack Mather (Image: Merseyside Police)

Anthony O’Donohoe, defending, said that Mather, who has one conviction for a dissimilar offence, “reacted in a way which on mature reflection he should not. He lost his temper.

“He accepts chasing Mr Surendra and intending to punch him and indeed did so. It shows a lack of consequential thinking skills and lack of maturity.”

He has been on remand for seven and a half months which has had “a salutary effect.”

Defence barrister Miles Wilson said that Smith, who has several previous convictions, has also been in custody since the incident.

He said his role in the incident had been “a chasing role.”

Mr Wilson said he had had a difficult childhood and was a “prime candidate” for probation intervention.

Dillon Smith (Image: Merseyside Police)

Mather and Smith were both given 22-month sentences by the judge.

The sentencing of Holcroft, who is on bail, has been adjourned until Monday, July 8 as he had not co-operated with the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Judge Potter warned him that he would be sentenced on the next occasion with or without a report.