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Peter Bakewell jailed: Attack on best pal left him with permanent scars

Posted on - 25th February, 2016 - 7:00pm | Author - | Posted in - Crime, Plungington, Preston News
Peter Bakewell

Peter Bakewell

A man who slashed his best friend several times across the face in a frenzied attack at a party in Preston has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

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Leon Finch thought he would bleed to death when Peter Bakewell, his pal of 30 years, slashed him three times across his face with a stanley knife in a fight outside their Plungington home.

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Preston Crown Court heard a row broke out when Mr Finch returned home to Norris Street to find a party in full swing and asked the revellers to leave.

Bakewell asked him to come outside – where he threw a punch at his friend and a scuffle broke out.

Bakewell 43, rained blows on Mr Finch’s face and body, before stepping back and saying: “Look what you made me do.”

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Feeling blood – which he thought was coming from his nose – Mr Finch went inside the house but was horrified when he looked in a mirror and saw cuts to his face and abdomen. He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he was resuscitated and stabilised and treated for cuts and nerve damage.

When Bakewell was arrested shortly before 5am he had blood covering his hands and cardigan.

The court heard Bakewell has previous convictions for violence – including GBH on an ex partner he stamped on as she tried to leave the house – and was classed as a dangerous offender by Judge Robert Altham, sentencing.

Mr Finch now has permanent facial scars and had to give evidence at the trial against his former friend.

The court heard one side of his face may drop due to nerve damage caused by the attack.

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Judge Altham said: “This was not just an extremely violent attack but a frenzied attack. It is said you didn’t appreciate the extent of the injuries you were causing.

“If you put a knife into a man’s face on three occasions how can you possibly expect to do anything but cause injuries such as this? You were aware of that. It is also said in this case that you feel remorse.

“Having run a trial, put your victim through a trial and having through your counsel effectively called him a liar, you now say, on the wrong end of a conviction you are sorry?

“I do not accept for a moment there is a shred of remorse in you.

“This has been a life changing event for (Mr Finch). He will live with the consequences of bearing these scars on his face for the rest of his life. He will require medical treatment on an ongoing basis.

“I have absolutely no doubt you are a man who poses a significant risk to the public.”

He handed Bakewell an extended sentence comprising of 14 years custody and a four year extended licence period.

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