A man who attacked a car using a large combat knife, terrorising the driver inside, has today been jailed after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, personally argued that his original sentence was too low at the Court of Appeal.
Joshua Gardner, 19, attacked a car with a large 'zombie knife' having spotted the victim, who he had previously argued with, sitting inside. The victim tried to drive away but clipped the wheel of Gardner's bike, causing him to fall. Gardner then began kicking the vehicle, before hitting the windows with his knife. He eventually managed to smash the passenger window, and attempted to stab the victim through the hole. The victim managed to exit the car and get away uninjured.
Gardner was originally sentenced to 2 years in prison, suspended for 2 years, at the Central Criminal Court in November 2018. Today, the Court of Appeal has jailed Gardner for 3 and a half years.
Speaking outside the Court of Appeal, the Solicitor General said:
Gardner took to the streets in broad daylight, terrorising his victim and those members of the public who witnessed this extreme act of violence with a dangerous weapon. I am pleased that the Court of Appeal has today decided that a custodial sentence is more appropriate to help prevent Gardner from posing a threat to anyone else.
