A man was slashed with a Stanley knife in a Tesco car park after recognising his attacker from a YouTube video.
Pavel Stefanovic launched his vicious assault after being approached by a fellow Lithuanian inside the Meir Park store. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told the pair stepped outside where Stefanovic whipped out a Stanley knife and slashed at his victim, leaving him with multiple wounds including cuts to his hand, arm, legs and nose.
Stefanovic, 39, of Charnwood Road, Meir, has now been jailed for 29 months – a sentence that makes deportation likely. Prosecutor Jamie Scott revealed the victim was shopping in Tesco with his wife on the afternoon of December 30, 2022 when he recognised the defendant from a YouTube video.
They started chatting and the man asked if Stefanovic would prefer to converse in Russian. Mr Scott said: “Stefanovic became more aggressive. He asked, ‘What do you want from me?’ and asked if they could talk outside. The couple, having bought their shopping, went to the car park.
“The defendant was waiting for them. They make their way towards foliage on the perimeter of the car park. The defendant encouraged the other man to follow him there. He said he would explain everything there.
“The wife followed. She saw Stefanovic holding a knife concealed under his sleeve. As they reached the foliage Stefanovic revealed that knife to the man when his back was turned to him. The man’s wife screamed. The man turned around. Stefanovic swung the knife towards the man’s face. The victim held up his hand defensively and Stefanovic slashed the man’s left palm. He stabbed the man’s right forearm and right leg and he cut the man’s jacket.
“Stefanovic threatened to cut the married couple into pieces and to kill them. He appeared to notice other members of the public had noticed what was going on and they were going to call the authorities. As a result he began to move away.
“The wife called her sons and they arrived. Stefanovic found himself surrounded by the victim and his family. He was still holding the knife and threatening to kill them.
“The police arrived and by that time Stefanovic had been in a car park with a knife brandished and used for more than 20 minutes. Only at that point did he drop the knife. It was seized. It was a Stanley knife. He was arrested. He had a second Stanley knife in his pocket which he did not produce.”
(Image: Stoke Live / BPM Media)
The court was told the victim was taken to hospital where medics stitched up a 2cm gash to his left hand, a puncture wound to his right forearm, a cut to his right finger and a slash to his right knee. Stefanovic admitted to unlawful wounding, two counts of possessing a bladed weapon in public and failing to appear in court.
The court was told Stefanovic had been imprisoned in Lithuania for five years in 2006 for a grievous bodily harm offence involving a knife.
Mark Hemming, defending, revealed Stefanovic had served a total of 289 days on remand, including 65 days in Lithuania, adding: “He is clearly at risk of extradition. A sentence of 12 months or more will result in his deportation. A suspended sentence would not trigger his return. He has spent 289 days on remand in custody.”
Judge Richard McConaghy declared the offending was so serious that only immediate imprisonment was suitable.
Judge McConaghy stated: “The victim approached you in Tesco to start a perfectly normal conversation. He had recognised you as a fellow Lithuanian. For some reason you became aggressive and the two of you ended up going outside. His wife was also present.
“The two of you walked towards the edge of the car park. You had a knife up your sleeve. You pulled it out and you swung it at his face. He blocked you with his hand and you cut him to his hand. You also stabbed him to his arm, to his legs, and he was left with a cut to his nose, it seems coming from the first strike. He had multiple wounds, although none of the greatest severity. His wife remained present.
“You spent about 20 minutes in the car park at Tesco in the middle of the day, threatening to kill people with the knife you had in your hand. When the police arrived and arrested you you were found to have a second knife in your pocket. Both were Stanley knives.
“It was a persistent incident. The circumstances had a risk of serious disorder and you caused serious alarm or distress.
“Due the the fact that you are a foreign national and this is a qualifying sentence you are liable in principle to automatic deportation to Lithuania. You will be taken to Lithuania to serve your sentence in any event.”
The judge issued a deprivation order for both blades.