A TEENAGER who stabbed a man in the leg was told by a judge he would have been sent to prison if he had been an adult.
Tye Povey, who was 17 at the time of the attack, got out of a car and stabbed the victim during a street dispute linked to a family conflict.
He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, August 25, where Judge Recorder Andrew Thomas KC described the stabbing as a “really serious offence” and handed Povey, now 18, a suspended sentence.
His mother, Leanne Tinsley, who drove him away from the scene, also appeared in court after pleading guilty to assisting an offender.
Daniel Jones, Tinsley’s partner and the man at the centre of the dispute, was sentenced for intimidating a witness in a separate but related incident.
Holly Menary, prosecuting, told the court there had been an ongoing dispute between the victim and Jones.
Ms Menary said: "By the time events occurred the tension between the two sides was really building.
"The precise reason for the conflict is perhaps something we will never get to the bottom of."
On November 14 last year, Mr Jones and the victim had exchanged words outside Allanson Street Primary School.
The following day, Tinsley parked her car on Twyford Place in Fingerpost when a confrontation broke out in the street at around 4.30pm.
CCTV captured what was described in court as an “ugly argument” beside the car.
During the dispute, Povey got out of the vehicle and stabbed the victim in the upper leg with a knife.
A nine-year-old child was in the car at the time.
Tinsley then drove Povey away from the scene.
She later told police that the victim’s partner had approached her car and accused her of “sleeping with her fella.”
Tinsley said the man kicked her car, prompting her to leave, and that the victim threw what appeared to be a golf club at her, causing her to lose control and collide with another vehicle, Ms Menary said.
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Two months later, on January 25, 2026, the stabbing victim was approached by Jones while walking home.
Jones was wearing a balaclava helmet and carrying a knife.
He threatened the victim, saying: "You’re getting it, I’m going to kill you."
Ms Menary told the court that Jones had 16 previous convictions for 27 offences, mainly involving drugs and driving.
Povey and Tinsley had no previous convictions.
She said the stabbing involved "a highly dangerous weapon" and was "aggravated by the presence of a nine-year-old child in the car."
John Rowan, defending Povey, said his client "wants to express his genuine remorse" and had previously been of good character.
He described Povey’s actions as "impulsive" and said the teenager had shown "exceptional" progress under supervision.
Ben Berkson, representing Tinsley, said she acted "in part out of impulse" and had a "realistic prospect of rehabilitation."
Olivia Beesley, defending Jones, who appeared via video link from custody, said he had "taken steps forward" while in custody and, despite his record, had never previously served time.
Judge Thomas said the events stemmed from a dispute involving Jones and the victim.
He said: "The nature of and detail of that dispute doesn’t matter; it doesn’t provide any excuse for what happened.
"Stabbing someone to the leg is a serious matter, people have died from being stabbed to the leg.
"As it was, the victim was treated in hospital with stitches."
He described Jones’ later threats as "a serious matter not least against the background."
He said: "I take into account Tinsley and Povey’s good character, the same can’t be said for you (Jones).
"You have convictions for drug offences, aggravated vehicle taking and possession of heroin and crack cocaine."
Jones, 38, of Church Road, Litherland, who had pleaded guilty to intimidating a witness, was sentenced to two years in prison.
Tinsley, 35, of Woodside Avenue, Ashton-in-Makerfield, received a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.
She must complete 15 days of rehabilitation activity, wear a GPS tag for six months, and pay a £1,000 fine.
Povey, also of Woodside Avenue, was given a six-month prison term, suspended for two years after he had pleaded guilty to wounding.
He was ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work.
Judge Thomas said: "You were a child at the time of this offence.
"I have to take into account your lack of maturity and very different understanding young people have of the consequences of their actions.
"I recognise everything that has been said about the influences there have been in your life, but stabbing someone is always a very serious offence."
He told Povey that if he had been an adult, he would have faced "a period of years" in prison.
Judge Thomas said: "While 17 you get chances in life, you won’t always get that.
"What is set out in the pre-sentence report about you is impressive.
"I hope that you will learn from this experience and that life for you going forward will be different."
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