Judge tells knife thug 'you're lucky he didn't die' after sickening attack outside pub

George Bennett, 19, who has a history of violent offending, was warned he faced a life sentence after he knifed Reece Ashall in the back outside a Southport pub

A violent teenager has narrowly avoided a life sentence after stabbing a man in the back outside a pub. George Bennet, 19, had already built up a number of serious convictions before attacking his latest victim on the night of October 18, 2024.

His criminal history began at just 14-years-old when he caused grievous bodily harm during an attack in September 2020.

Two months later, at 15, he attacked another boy with a knife, leading to convictions for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and having an offensive weapon.

In January 2021, Bennett was sentenced to two and a half years in a young offenders institution for crimes committed at 15. He received another 12-month detention and training order the following month for the assault he committed at 14.

While serving his sentence in August 2022, Bennett assaulted a fellow inmate with an "improvised weapon". He was given an additional 16 months detention for affray after the "frenzied attack", where he repeatedly punched and stabbed the other inmate with a pen-made weapon.

From Fulwood Drive, Long Eaton, Bennett reappeared at Liverpool Crown Court today (April 25), where he pleaded guilty to another charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The case, which opened last month, heard how victim Reece Ashall was enjoying a night out at the Fox and Goose pub in Southport on October 18 last year. CCTV footage taken just before 11.30pm showed him interacting with another man, Jacob Cleaver, at the bar, appearing to either calm him down or usher him away.

Cleaver then swiftly punched him with considerable force in the face, causing him to fall. He continued to kick and push Mr Ashall before Bennett approached the brawl with a knife in his right hand and stabbed the victim in the back.

A third defendant, Jamie Turner, initially seemed to grab the knifeman's arm before attempting to pull Cleaver away from the victim. However, he soon became involved in the scuffle himself, acting aggressively towards door staff trying to break up the fight.

Mr Ashall was rushed to hospital, where he stayed for six days. He suffered a collapsed lung, needing three blood transfusions and a chest drain.

Cleaver, from Trafalgar Square in Long Eaton, received a 14-month prison sentence, while Turner, from Sandford Avenue in Long Eaton, was sentenced to eight months in jail.

Bennett's sentencing was postponed until today, with a warning that he could face a life sentence due to his history of violent crimes.

Robert Wyn Jones, defending, said: "He is described within the psychiatric report as suffering from general anxiety disorder and ADHD, and no more than that. But the author goes into his background, and a very troubled history.

"What does shine through is that this is young man who has demonstrated, against his background of trauma, insight and more recently remorse. He describes having empathy with his recent victim, Reece Ashall."

Jones highlighted Bennett's positive steps, saying he had shown "a determination to change" and expressed "a strong desire to turn his life around."

He added: "He was still just 18 when the most recent offences were committed in October last year. In my submission, it would be wrong at this stage in his life to throw away the key and consider a life sentence."

During sentencing, Judge Brian Cummings KC pointed out: "You went equipped with a knife. You had a knife on you already. Pausing to outline the seriousness of this, if the victim had died, that would be murder, and you would be looking at life with a minimum of 25 years in prison.

"He didn't die, you're lucky about that, but that is the sort of serious consequence you have to exposed yourself to and now you need to keep that clearly in mind going forward."

The judge decided against a life sentence, but said: "There's a significant risk of you committing further offences and causing serious harm to others. That's the reality. I can't shy away from it given your history.

"I must therefore consider whether the fixed term sentence of six years would provide the public with sufficient safeguards, or what other protective sentence is required, either a life sentence or an extended sentence, and I have considered that carefully.

"A life sentence is a sentence of last resort. You're still only 19.... I turn to the extended sentence. In my judgement that's absolutely required and justified in your case."

Bennett was given a total 11 year extended sentence, comprising six years in custody and a further five years on licence conditions after his release.

Additionally, the judge imposed a serious violence reduction order, granting police the authority to stop and search Bennett for weapons at any time for two years following his release from prison.