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The seven-year jail sentence handed to a man who stabbed his victim over a drugs debt should send a "strong message to anyone thinking of using a knife as a weapon”, say police.
Robert Adrian Canavan (30) was yesterday sentenced to seven years in prison for leaving his victim with a wound to his chest and a deep stab wound to his abdomen which required surgery.
The Royal Court heard that if the man had not received treatment, he could have bled to death.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Jim McGranahan, from the Criminal Investigations Department, said: “Canavan carried out a deliberate and nasty assault and behaviour like this cannot be tolerated.
“We will do everything in our power to see offenders such as this face justice.
“We hope that today’s sentencing sends out a strong message to anyone thinking of using a knife as a weapon.”
Pictured: Robert Canavan had a 14cm cut to his face, while his victim had wounds to his chest and liver.
The court heard that Canavan had been involved in an altercation at a St Saviour estate over a drugs debt and returned to his home – only to return to the area armed with two knives.
On his way to the estate, he texted the victim saying he was prepared and would cut his neck.
The victim eventually came out of his house, himself armed with a blade.
Neighbours described two altercations, one at around 20:00 and another two hours later.
Canavan eventually called an ambulance for himself, and responders found him outside with a 14cm cut to his face. They found his victim lying injured in his bed.
Crown Advocate Christina Hall, prosecuting, said that had the victim been left untreated, the blood loss from an injury to his liver might have killed him.
A trail of blood, as well as witnesses’ descriptions, led police investigators to three blades that had been discarded in bushes.
Canavan later pleaded guilty to grave and criminal assault and possession of an offensive weapon – two knives – in a public place.
Pictured: The altercation took place on a St Saviour estate in September.
Advocate Olaf Blakeley, defending, described his client as “a kind man” and “genuine”.
He added: “This is a man who over a period of time through his life has had disruption.
"He’s experienced violence; he’s been brought up in an unstable environment."
Delivering the sentence, Commissioner Sir William Bailhache said the courts wanted to send out a message “that knife crime is treated extremely seriously and will not be tolerated”.
He added: “The fact is that when you use a knife on someone, you do not know how extensive or fatal those injuries are going to be... you are not in control.
“If you had not taken the knives with you, none of this would have happened.
“We read in the UK of the increasing prevalence of knife crime.
“It seems to be on the increase. And if that is the culture, it certainly will not be tolerated here.”
Canavan was sentenced to seven years for grave and criminal assault and two years for possessing an offensive weapon. The prison terms are to run concurrently.
Sir William was sitting with Jurats Elizabeth Dulake, Kim Averty, Gareth Hughes, Alison Opfermann and Michael Entwistle.
Man jailed over drug debt stabbing on St Saviour estate
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