A former drug dealer has described the moment he was stabbed and "beaten to a pulp" in a vicious attack.
Dai Mcbride had recently given up drug dealing when he was called to a flat in Swansea to lend someone money. But it was a set-up and for 14 minutes, they choked, beat and stabbed him.
Now more than two decades later Mr McBride, from Swansea, has decided to speak about his experience with drugs and weapons as part of a new campaign to raise awareness of knife crime.
Read more: Harry Baker's mum relives the agonising moment she was told her son had been stabbed to death
The incident happened around the time Mr McBride was dealing class A drugs in the Swansea area.
"Drugs was my life, my lifestyle, I suppose a choice", he said.
"I went from cannabis all the way up to the Class A’s. In the 80s rave scene, doing ecstasy, cocaine. I took it as a job, it was all about trying not to get caught. Paying people to go and do your runs.
"Up to Liverpool and London. Once you’re in the game you’re in the game and it's dangerous."
Mr McBride was trying to wean off drugs and alcohol addiction when he was called to a flat, on the pretence it was to lend somebody £10.
Despite trying to free himself from the drug market, his reputation followed him and Dai was brutally attacked.
"A lady phoned my mums up asking for £10 for gas. I go up, get the lift to the fourth floor, give the tenner, have a chat, little did I know there were four people waiting," he said.
"It was a set-up it conspired. There were four people waiting, hoods, scarves, knives two had shivvies (a homemade knife-like weapon).
"It was survival mode really, just fighting them off.
"They were choking me out, trying to get me to the floor, they stuck something in my leg. With that I just felt my leg give way. I’m collapsing then and they beat me to a pulp."
Mr McBride said that police told him the tirade had lasted for 14 minutes, where he was beaten, robbed and stabbed.
"It was well planned. And when you’ve got four people doing it, all screaming your name, screaming at you ‘where’s the drugs’. You’re doomed."
Mr Mcbride didn’t have any drugs on him when he was attacked. He had quit dealing weeks before.
"I was in recovery, I was abstaining from all illicit substances and the drug game. But obviously the consequences of my past caught up with me.
"I got back into heroin, that was my go-to thing then to numb the pain. It’s just that battle again then. It put the fear in me. Of course, it did."
Mr Mcbride is now clean from drugs and alcohol, and wants to raise awareness of the damaging impact involvement in the drug market can have.
He says that the attack, as well as his son's death in Afghanistan, had a huge impact on him turning his life around.
"He had seen me clean and sober, he had seen me in recovery and start that journey and a part of me was thinking, I can’t and won’t tonight the memory of him by using again," said Mr Mcbride
"I have a life beyond my wildest dreams now. I am a productive member of society, I pay my taxes, I pay my bills, I owe nobody nothing.
"I don’t fear, I have no fears of my past catching up with me. I don’t have to worry about any consequences because there are no actions today.
"I’m glad I am out of that lifestyle because I don’t think I would’ve lasted much longer if I was still in the game."
Mr McBride is now working with South Wales Police as part of their latest Violence Prevention Unit collaborative campaign The campaign is focused on educating teenagers, particularly ages 11 to 16, with early intervention at the forefront of the campaign.
The campaign is aimed at 11 to 16-year-olds in south Wales as police say evidence suggests that early intervention and prevention is important to prevent people from carrying a knife in the first place.
“When you’re in the drug game, getting stabbed is a reality," said Mr McBride.
"You need to accept the fact that you could get stabbed, and worse, people go missing.
"You get out of that game as soon as or just don’t get into the game. There is always someone bigger and badder.
"And more people don’t care, some people just don’t care. You need to accept the fact that you could get stabbed, and worse, go missing. People go missing.
"So if you’re thinking of picking up a knife, be careful."
South Wales Police said from conversations with young people in areas where knife-related offences have occurred the most often, feedback showed that those with concerns about knife crime would most likely report this to a teacher, parent, or trusted member of the community.
Officers said that the partnership-led campaign aims to educate 11 to 16-year-old males on the dangers and consequences of carrying a knife, targeting teachers, parents, friends and family with an educational pack of information.
Superintendent Esyr Jones of South Wales Police said: “This campaign has been built with and for young people, and seeks to empower communities to act against knife crime. It provides individuals who have an influence in young people’s lives with information, guidance, and referral options if they believe that a child they care for is at risk of being drawn into knife crime.
“Whether you are a parent, teacher, youth worker, sports coach or a young person yourself, this pack provides you with educational information to make a difference and potentially save lives.”
South Wales Police said knife crime remains relatively rare in south Wales. Research suggests most young people who carry a knife are motivated by fear and the mistaken belief that they need to carry a knife to be safe. Many young people also believe there are more knives on the streets than there actually are.
South Wales Police said in reality, carrying a knife is rare, and those who do are much more likely to be a victim of knife crime themselves. When knives are involved, situations can quickly get out of control.
Their campaign slogan focuses on this: " Only one in 100 young people carry a knife. Don’t be the one."
More details on the #NotTheOne campaign can be found here.
Mr McBride's account is the first of several people who have decided to be a part of the campaign in the hopes of educating young people on the dangers of carrying weapons. These will be featured on WalesOnline in upcoming days.
The first, Emma Baker's harrowing account of her son Harry's death, can be found here.
To get the latest newsletters from WalesOnline click here.
