Shopper left 'fighting for life' after bloody knife attack in Leeds convenience store
Thug with weapons obsession launched at customer who was minding his own business
A shopper was left “fighting for his life” after being stabbed in a Leeds convenience store.
The man suffered serious injuries after Ricky Sparks plunged the kitchen knife into his back before trying to rob him.
Sparks, who has previous offences for carrying weapons, did not know the victim and said nothing to him before the bloody attack.
He was handed an extended 15-year sentence at Leeds Crown Court today, with Judge Richard Mansell KC telling him: “I have no hesitation in concluding that you are a highly dangerous young man.
“It was a wholly gratuitous and unprovoked attack on a man. The injuries were grave and obviously life threatening. It’s not an exaggeration to say he was fighting for his life.”
The court heard that the victim had entered the Kasa convenience store on Dewsbury Road in Beeston in the early hours of July 4, picked up items and was stood paying for them at the counter.
CCTV footage from the shop was played to the court and showed the man stood at the checkout as Sparks walked past the window and entered shop.
Moment later he appears to lunge at the unsuspecting man from behind, stabbing him quickly to the back.
The man, clearly unaware of what had happened, turned to face 24-year-old Sparks, who was brandishing the large kitchen knife.
Wearing a baseball cap and black gloves, Sparks shouted: “Give me your money or I will stab you.”
The victim is then seen to empty his pockets of his wallet and keys. Sparks then shouted: “Give me all you have got and get out.”
The footage showed a blood patch forming on the right shoulder area of the victim’s white T-shirt.
He then got out of the shop and ran across the four carriageways on Dewsbury Road to get away, but realised he had left his car keys behind.
When he thought Sparks had left, he went back into the shop for his keys but was beginning to feel the pain from his back.
The man managed to drive himself home but with the pain growing worse, called for an ambulance.
Rushed to hospital, he was found to have suffered a fractured shoulder blade, rib and a punctured lung.
The court was told his life hung in the balance and murder detectives had even been put on standby to investigate the incident.
Ms Parnham said the impact had been “immense” for both the victim and his family.
She added: “He can’t understand why someone would walk up and attack him without any reason.”
Sparks, of Cedar Mount, Armley, appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds where was being held on remand.
He has five previous convictions for 12 offences, including three for possessing offensive weapons or bladed articles, the last being in 2025 after he was found to have a knife at Leeds Railway Station.
Mitigating, Lily Wildman said Sparks was still relatively young and added: “The first thing he wanted to say through me was to sincerely apologise for his actions.
“He understand it was an innocent member of the public and knows he faces a lengthy sentence.”
Judge Mansell was skeptical about Sparks’ apparent memory loss from that night, claiming he was either “out of it” on drink and drugs, or has “little insight” into the risk he poses to others.
He even questioned if Sparks’ motivation was robbery, suggesting it was perhaps a lust for violence.
He gave him a 10-year jail sentence, of which he must serve two-thirds before being considered for parole, plus a five-year extended licence period.