Man left needing surgery after late night knife fight in Leeds avoids jail
The fight escalated when he began brandishing a knife
A man who required surgery after a knife fight in Leeds has escaped jail.
Keishawn Ewing received a suspended sentence at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to offences of affray and possession of a bladed article.
Prosecutor Jody Beaumont detailed how the 26-year-old, of East Lane, Runcorn, was out in Leeds in the early hours of June 26 last year when he got into a fight with friends.
This disagreement escalated when the defendant began brandishing a knife, before “lunging” at one of the individuals and falling to the ground himself, the court was told.
Once on the ground, Ewing received a number of knife wounds, including to his head, groin and stomach, and required surgery on a front skull fracture.
The incident was caught on CCTV and seen by a witness, who quickly retreated back into the nightclub she had exited and raised the alarm.
Attending the scene, police soon located blood spots and the knife. The defendant was later arrested, whereupon he gave no comment interview.
Defence counsel Tonicha Allen opted not to offer any additional mitigation after Judge Ray Singh indicated he would be handing down a suspended sentence.
He sentenced Ewing, who has no previous criminal convictions, to 12 months in prison suspended for two years, plus 120 hours of unpaid work and 15 activity rehabilitation days.