A man who stabbed a 16-year-old in a random attack outside a tram station while drunk has been jailed for 10-years.
Shaun Hudson, 20, lived a ‘troubled’ childhood having been subjected to violence from his father at a young age and taking drugs including cocaine from 11.
However, recorder Neil Usher told him at Manchester Minshull Street Court today that he can’t ‘excuse the seriousness’ of his offences, three of which involved knives.
The stabbing of the 16-year-old at the Metrolink stop was the last of four incidents, with Recorder Usher considering it the most dangerous.
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Hudson's first crime happened on May 23, 2019, when he was only 17-years-old.
Prosecuting, Geoff Whelan told the court that Hudson, of no fixed abode, called Peri Grill, in Sale, and ordered at least £44 worth of takeaway food.
When the food did not arrive straight away, calls were made from Hudson’s phone ‘badgering’ the takeaway to deliver faster.
The owner himself said he would deliver it, and travelled to Firs Road, Sale, before being told to go to nearby Harboro Road.
Here he saw four youths who told him to get out of the car. He was subsequently hit on the head with a glass bottle, cutting his face, with the food and £15 stolen from the car.
It is not known who hit the delivery driver, but Hudson’s fingerprints were found on food boxes nearby which placed him at the scene.
A victim personal statement from the takeaway owner described that he feared for his life at the time of the incident and thought of his daughter and wife, and he no longer feels confident doing deliveries himself.
The next incident involved both Hudson and co-defendant Jamie Forster, 22, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for a different offence.
Hudson and Forster were in a property opposite the Gorse Hill pub in Chester Road, Old Trafford, on July 26 2019.
Two men who were outside the pub were making lots of noise, the court heard, leading to Hudson and Forster shouting at them across the road to be quiet.
An argument ensued before the defendants went out to confront them. Forster chased one of the men and stabbed him in the back.
The man required ‘emergency surgery’ after the attack, with the man saying in a victim personal statement that he will ‘suffer with this for the rest of my life’ and that it has made his whole family more anxious.
The incident was out of reach of CCTV cameras but Hudson and Forster entered a nearby shop just after the incident where Forster was seen carrying a bloody knife, which was later found in a nearby alleyway by police.
The next incident happened over a year later on September 29, 2020, after Hudson had turned 18.
Hudson’s father, Dominic, had become involved in an argument with the manager of a Greggs store in Altrincham. On September 29 Dominic had an argument with the Greggs manager and threatened him saying he knew where he lived.
At 8pm that night Dominic and Shaun Hudson, who was wearing a balaclava, and another unknown female were heard outside the Greggs manager’s flat which he shared with a flatmate.
The Hudson’s threatened to stab him and when he came out of the flat to move them away Shaun Hudson stabbed him three times in the back.
Dominic Hudson was given a community order for this.
Stabbing at Metrolink stop 'most serious attack'
The most serious incident, according to Recorder Usher, occurred on April 14, 2021.
Just before 8.40pm, two 16-year-old boys and a group of girls left Sale Metrolink station on Northenden Road.
An intoxicated Hudson and another male approached the group with Hudson proceeding to ‘stare’ at them, Mr Whelan told the court.
One boy asked if Hudson ‘had a problem’ to which Hudson shouted ‘do you know who I am’ whilst ‘jumping about’.
Hudson then punched one of the boys before moving to the other and headbutting them before a fight broke out.
The court was shown CCTV of the attack, with Hudson seen ‘slashing’ the boy's face with what the group believed to be a knife.
The victim ‘cried out’ because of the injury with the other boy telling him to run.
He ran towards the Co-Op on Northenden Road, bleeding from his face and from his side, where he had also been stabbed.
Hudson followed him and told the group of girls who had also followed ‘my girlfriend will f**k you up’.
He was only stopped when the other male with Hudson told him ‘you need to dip’.
The stabbed boy required surgery for his injuries and without this, the incident ‘may have been fatal’ the court heard.
A victim personal statement from the boy said his injuries were a ‘constant reminder’ of what happened. He was unable to complete his GCSEs and has a large scar across his face.
Defending Hudson, James Preece, told the court that Hudson had written a remorseful letter to the victim and to the court.
“He didn’t have an easy upbringing and suffers with PTSD and ADHD,” Mr Preece said.
He is said to take responsibility for all incidents and is highly motivated to improve and change his life.
During Recorder Usher’s sentencing, Dominic Hudson was asked to leave the public gallery after an outburst, which Shaun apologised for from the dock, saying “that’s not me”.
Recorder Usher acknowledged Hudson’s family difficulties. “You are a young man who parents have failed you,” he said.
However, he added: “This can’t excuse the very serious offences three of which involved you carrying a knife.”
“Knife crime across this city is a major problem which devastates lives especially of young people, both the victims and perpetrators,” Mr Usher continued.
“Those that carry knives in public or for any other reason and use them must expect to go to custody for a long time.
“You repeatedly carried knives to cause injury to complete strangers with little provocation.”
Hudson was sentenced to 10 years in prison - with a three-year extended licence period - for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, and possession of a bladed article for the April 14 incident.
Hudson pleaded guilty to these charges.
He was given concurrent sentences for the charges relating to the previous incidents, including possession of a blade and affray in the fight outside the pub with Forster on July 26 2019.
Forster - who is already serving a 12-year sentence with a four-year extended licence - was given a concurrent sentence of to two years and six months for causing GBH with intent and possession of a knife in the incident in Old Trafford on July 26 2019. He was defended by Oliver Jarvis.
