Appeal court doubles sentence given to Wembley teenager who stabbed boy, 16

A Wembley teenager who stabbed a 16-year-old today has had his ‘too soft’ sentence doubled by top judges today.

Trinity Britton-Paull of Brook Avenue, Wembley Park, knifed the victim in a ‘revenge’ attack in Mitcham, south London, following an earlier disagreement between the two.

The 17-year-old, who has a number of previous convictions including violence and drugs offences, was found guilty of wounding with intent and handed three-and-a-half years youth detention at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court in January.

But Appeal Court judges today ruled his sentence ‘far too lenient’ for his crime, which left his victim with life-threatening injuries - and upped it to seven years.

The court heard Britton-Paull and another youth were involved in the attack on the 16-year-old boy in Mitcham town centre.

The victim suffered a serious wound to his abdomen and had to undergo life-saving surgery.

A trail of blood traced a path which led police from where the victim was found to where the accomplice lived.

When officers arrested Britton-Paull, it was apparent he had tried to wash any blood traces from his clothing and shoes.

He appeared at London’s Criminal Appeal Court over a video-link from a youth detention centre.

Lawyers for the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, argued his original sentence was nowhere near tough enough.

Lord Justice Davis, sitting with Mr Justice Gilbart and Judge David Radford QC, agreed and said the ‘least possible sentence’ for the attack was seven years.

He added: “This is a young man who has his whole life ahead of him and he is certainly in a position to get his life together.

“We understand that any sentence will have a very great impact on him.

“But the fact is that he has been involved in a most serious crime, with most serious consequences.”