A teenager brought back to life after being fatally stabbed in south London has told his attackers he “did not deserve this”, as they were sentenced to life in prison.
James Bascoe-Smith, then aged 16, was knocked off a bicycle by a stolen Range Rover and repeatedly knifed by masked men near his home in Brixton last February. He effectively died for nearly an hour but was brought miraculously back to life by medics.
Leon Rashid, a 20-year-old from Thornton Heath, and Taiquane Lewis, 19, from Kennington, were found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to murder. On Thursday, they were handed life sentences with minimum terms of 14 and 13 years in prison respectively.
The teenager was the entirely innocent victim of a gang stabbing sparked either by a provocative online drill video or as “tit-for-tat” revenge for a previous attack, the court was told.
During the hearing, James asked the defendants in a pre-recorded video why they had targeted him and whether they felt any remorse, telling them: “I did not deserve this, I had no issues with anyone ... I just want to know why they attacked me and if they feel bad for what they have done.”
The teenager recalled “crying out for my mum and pleading for them to stop” during the “life-changing” attack, after which he was left unable to communicate for six months.
“They have stopped me from driving, going on my first holiday with my friends to celebrate my 18th birthday, gymnastics coaching, working and from becoming a music producer as I was studying this in college,” James said.
“I now need a carer full time, they are complete strangers to me who come in to provide me my personal care, to feed and clothe me,” he added. “I cannot get out of bed on my own, I can’t even brush my own teeth and I need a lot of medication to help me with my recovery.
“I have been left in a wheelchair that is not electric, I rely on everyone to move me, I have no independence. I now have a brain injury because my heart stopped for nearly an hour, I don’t think I will ever be able to work or study again.”
James continued: “I am grateful that the doctors saved my life but living like this is hard, I miss my friends, I miss my old life – every day I wake up knowing this is how I will be forever.”
Following the attack, James managed to video call his mother on FaceTime to tell her he had been stabbed.
In an impact statement, his mother, Lisa Bascoe-Smith, said: “My phone rang and I saw James lying on the floor. I sunk when I saw him in a pool of blood. I keep asking myself, ‘how can it have happened in that space of a minute out of my eyesight?’
“He has gone from a sporty, carefree, happy-go-lucky boy to someone who has been bedridden and is struggling to move or communicate.”
James had been testing out a bicycle when a stolen Range Rover deliberately drove towards him, the prosecution told the court. The car struck the teenager and knocked him off his bike.
Prosecutor Edward Brown said: “Occupants of that stole Range Rover and the occupants of a second car, a VW Passat, got out and he was attacked, in particular by three males, each using a potentially lethal weapon ... before they then sped off in the same cars.”
Mr Brown said James had effectively died at the scene and “was only brought back to life by the immediate and significant efforts of the treating medical professionals”.
He added: “It is extraordinary he is here to tell the tale.”
James spent 174 days in hospital before being allowed home where he continues to work on his recovery, achieving 100 sit-ups in his wheelchair.
His aunt, Rachel Duncan, described her nephew as “a victim of a broken society”, adding: “Our community needs healing, care, and hope we can overcome this evil that has plagued the community.
“We cannot give up on our youth. We have to learn to forgive. We truly need to end this cycle of violence that can often become generational. We need to eradicate knife violence on our streets.”
Speaking outside the court on Thursday, Ms Duncan said: “Today is the end of our journey in the fight for justice. James was fortunate to survive. However, he has been left with severe life-changing injuries.
“This should not have happened. And I urge people who carry knives to stop. Please stop. The trauma caused to my nephew and my family – we are now living with the impact of knife violence forever.”
The defendants both had previous convictions for carrying knives, and discarded a “terrifying” selection of weapons as they fled, including a combat knife, rambo-style blade and zombie-style machete, the court heard.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Bourne KC said: “No-one can fail to be deeply moved by the devastating effect the life changing and tragic events of 23 February 2021 has had, not just for James Bascoe-Smith but his family, friends and the wider community.”
The court was told 12 “high harm” gangs had been identified in Southwark and Lambeth, with knife crime in the areas returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Describing James as “nothing short of a miracle and a beacon of light in the evil that is knife crime”, Detective Superintendent Neerav Patel warned those “who think they can get away with carrying out serious acts of violence on our streets” that the Metropolitan Police “will not stop pursuing you until you face justice”.
David Malone, deputy chief prosecutor for CPS London South, said: “The first and last word in this case belongs to James Bascoe-Smith, his mum Lisa and their family, whose heroism and dignity throughout contrasts startlingly with the cowardice of those sentenced here today, gang members who have shown no remorse for their despicable actions.”
Additional reporting by PA
