An ex-youth worker, identified only by his initials LP, has shared his traumatic experience of being randomly attacked, beaten, and stabbed in Wellington, an incident that still affects his life years later.
The assault took place in May 2023 at Rolly Polly Green, where LP was set upon by four young men – Montie Budge, Stuart Trott, Oliver Ratajczak, and Piotr Rycman – all minors at the time but now aged 18. The four were recently sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on 31 July. Budge received a suspended sentence, while the other three were handed community orders.
LP recounted the night of the attack as completely unexpected. After helping a drunken man find his way home, he was making his own way back through a pathway near Asda, which leads to Alexandra Road. He heard voices in the open space known locally as Rolly Polly Green and shone his torch towards the group.
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“I saw a lad emerge from behind a tree with a knife. I told him, ‘Whoa, okay, we don’t need this,’ and tried to walk away,” LP explained. However, as he turned, he was suddenly assaulted by three others.
He recalled being unaware that the attackers were young people. The frightening moment escalated quickly when the knife-wielding youth appeared. LP was knocked down, punched, and kicked amid shouts calling out the boy’s name, apparently warning others of the knife.
He only became aware he had been stabbed when several members of the group asked if he was alright. “They said, ‘You’re bleeding,’ and I thought it was just a cut nose, but it turned out I’d been stabbed twice in the head,” he said.
The injuries were severe but miraculously did not penetrate his skull. LP required 18 stitches for the knife wounds and also suffered bruised ribs. The attack involved over a dozen stabbing attempts, which LP came to understand fully only after watching video footage of the incident.
Despite the physical wounds healing within a few months, LP said the psychological impact persists. “It’s been three years now, and I can’t go out at night. Seeing a young person makes me want to rush home; I worry about my family,” he said.
The attack occurred just down the road from Wellington’s police station, which LP noted was only a 20 to 30 second run away. After receiving treatment at hospital, where his belongings were held as evidence, and giving a statement to police, LP was able to return home.
The police conducted an extensive search of the area, though they did not recover the knife used in the assault. Nevertheless, DNA and blood evidence linked the suspects conclusively.
In sentencing, Montie Budge received a 14-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, along with 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. He was ordered to pay £2,500 compensation and concurrently received a six-month suspended sentence for possession of a bladed article.
Oliver Ratajczak pleaded guilty to affray and was handed a 12-month community order with 160 hours unpaid work and £2,500 compensation. Stuart Trott received a 15-month community order, 200 hours unpaid work, 20 RAR days, and the same compensation amount. Piotr Rycman also pleaded guilty to affray, becoming subject to a 12-month community order, 160 hours unpaid work, and £2,500 compensation.
LP expressed his concerns about rising knife crime, which he previously believed was a problem mainly confined to larger cities. He highlighted the widespread impact such violence has not only on victims and their communities but also on the perpetrators themselves.
“I don’t understand why people need to carry knives,” he said. “I know knife crime is becoming more common, even in local schools, with kids bringing or threatening with knives. There needs to be more prevention and support to tackle this issue effectively.”
He mentioned the knife amnesty bin at Wellington police station but acknowledged that such measures have limitations if individuals refuse to surrender weapons.
LP also recalled the poignant display of the ‘Knife Angel’ sculpture in Taunton, crafted from thousands of surrendered blades. While he appreciated its significance, he found attending the exhibition daunting so soon after his attack.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of knife crime and the ongoing challenges faced by victims and communities in rural and urban areas alike.