Man jailed after stabbing and attacking man riding his stolen bike

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Reece Lowndes and Connor Richards saw another man, James Gregory, riding a bicycle that had been stolen at around 4pm on Tuesday, September 12 last year.

After seeing Gregory cycling along Cooper Street, a BMW 1 Series drove into the back of him and Lowndes got out of the vehicle and proceeded to attack him.

Several passers-by witnessed the incident, with Lowndes seen delivering a "high kick" to Gregory, as well as numerous blows and kicks after he had fallen to the ground.

The 22-year-old was also stabbed in the back before Lowndes fled the scene on his bicycle.

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A police scene was put in place following the incident (Image: St Helens Star)
At Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, April 26, CCTV footage that captured the incident was played, with the attack leaving Gregory with a stab wound, a rib fracture, bruises, and scratches.

Stella Hayden, prosecuting, explained that the 22-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene and later at hospital, while a police scene was put in place which the Star reported on at the time.

Following an immediate search for the suspects, Lowndes, of Chiltern Road in St Helens, was located at his home address and arrested after he fell through the ceiling while trying to escape.

Ms Hayden explained that while Lowndes is just 23-years-old, he already has 13 convictions for 20 offences, ranging from harassment, affray, and court order breaches, to threats with a bladed weapon and the assault of an emergency service worker.

James Gregory was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital for his injuries (Image: St Helens Star)
Defending, Christopher Stables said that while the incident is serious, it was impulsive and not a planned attack.

Mr Stables said: "The incident came about as the defendant saw his recently stolen bicycle being ridden by the complainant, and he attacked him in the spur of the moment.

"The incident escalated very quickly and the most serious part of the attack was a single wound by a knife held by the defendant.

"Although there was no serious injury caused, the defendant accepts that it could have been much more serious."

In mitigation, Mr Stables explained that Lowndes' life has been a "pretty sorry story", stating that the 23-year-old left education at the age of 11 and has been taking drugs from a similar age.

He said that Lowndes' lack of education has led to poor job prospects and limited opportunities, which in turn has led to mental health struggles including depression and anxiety.

Lowndes was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on April 26 (Image: St Helens Star)
Although Lowndes had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article, and previously claimed that the knife was Gregory's, he later changed these pleas to guilty a week before his planned trial.

Speaking to Lowndes, who appeared in court via a video link, Judge Murray said: "You are only 23 years old but you have a lot of previous offences.

"You saw the complainant riding your bicycle that had recently been stolen and you attacked him.

"You kicked him, you punched him, and you stabbed him in the back.

"I do accept that this was impulsive and not a planned attack [...] and I also accept that you have had a tough background.

"However, as you have an established pattern of criminal behaviour, there is a high likelihood of reoffending and a very high likelihood of causing harm to the public."

Taking all things into consideration, Judge Murray handed Lowndes a 42-month sentence for the offence of wounding with intent, which was reduced to 33 months following his guilty plea.

He was also given a 20-month sentence for the possession of a bladed weapon, although this was handed concurrently, so the 23-year-old will spend 33 months in jail.

Connor Richards, 27, of Bridge Road in Prescot, had also pleaded guilty to wounding with intent but his sentencing was adjourned to a later date.