A thug was caught on the run in Europe after he slashed his friend's neck with a knife and left him with permanent brain damage in a sickening attack in Manchester.
Petre Dumitru left his victim fighting for his life following the attack in Westbury Road, Crumpsall, in the early hours. His victim, who was also a Romanian national, was left with permanent brain damage, epilepsy and impaired mobility on his left side.
Following the attack of June 2, 2019, Dumitru fled England and was only arrested in the Netherlands in December 2021 after being on the run for over two years.
Prosecutor Bob Sastry told Minshull Street Crown Court on Wednesday (December 21) that the fight broke out after a group of four men had been drinking when Dumitru and his victim had a 'minor' argument which had spilled over from a car journey.
One of the men said the victim 'said he would beat up Dumitru if he didn't stop talking', Mr Sastry said.
“The victim and the defendant were on the stairs pushing each other,” the prosecution said. “Then [the witness] saw the victim coming from the stairs holding his neck bleeding profusely. The victim said ‘he cut me, he cut me on the neck'.”
The knife had severed the victim's right carotid artery, which led to a stroke as a result of major blood loss, the court heard.
The prosecutor explained how following the brutal attack, the victim had little memory of what happened but what he does remember comes back in nightmares. Additionally, family breakdowns after divorcing his ex-wife led to “depression and distress”, the court heard.
“Going to the gym, boxing and cycling are all distant memories for me now,” his statement said. “Even a simple walk in the park is difficult for me now because my left leg gets tired.”
The victim, who was watching on in court, is now unable to see his children and feels “a burden” to anyone who chooses to live with him. “Words cannot describe the impact this incident has had on me,” his statement ended.
Mitigating for the defence, Paul Treble said Dumitru “deeply regrets” his actions that were “a loss of self control”. Mr Treble claimed that there was “an element of self defence” but that Dumitru considers himself thankful that his victim survived.
“I am instructed to offer a sincere apology from the defence,” Mr Treble continued. He added that Dumitru, who had previously been charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty to causing grevious bodily harm, had ceased drinking alcohol since the incident.
Her Honour Judge Tina Landale refuted defence claims that the weapon was not highly dangerous and the fact he only pleaded guilty on the day of trial because he "wasn’t fully aware of the situation he was in", and sentenced him to ten years and nine months in jail.
“You fled, not only the scene but the UK and did not return until some time later from Europe,” the judge said. “The victim went to hospital and received life saving treatment.
“He has to live with life changing disabilities. It is clear that without that life saving treatment he would have died and he and his family would have to live with the change you inflicted upon them.”
Detective Sergeant Jamie Heaton, of GMP's North Manchester division, said: "In order to bring Dumitru back to the United Kingdom, GMP worked tirelessly with the Crown Prosecution Service, the National Crime Agency, as well as Dutch and Romanian law enforcement agencies. We are committed to bringing suspects before the courts, no matter where they may be, and our work will not relent until offenders are brought to justice."
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