A FISHPONDS man who attacked a teenager in a McDonald’s restaurant, stabbing him “multiple times” with a machete, has been jailed for 18 years.
Joel Binnings, aged 20, carried out the “truly horrendous attack” in front of families in the fast food chain’s Horsefair branch in the city centre in February.
He denied a charge of attempted murder but was found guilty by a jury at Bristol Crown Court last month and was sentenced at the same court today.
Binnings’ 16-year-old victim, who has not been named by police, was saved by members of the public and emergency services staff at the scene but spent almost four months in hospital following the attack, with serious “life-changing” injuries.
His parents wrote statements for the court to explain the effects of the attack on the family.
The victim’s mother said: “The night of February 8 was the worst night of my life.
“I got a call that my son had been stabbed. Going to the hospital I had no idea of how serious a condition he was in. When I got to the hospital he was in surgery and I was told the severity of his injuries. Words cannot express how I felt when hearing what was happening to him.
“I was at the hospital for days, not going home, afraid to leave him. I didn’t, couldn’t, go to work for several weeks. How could I when he was continually having to fight to stay alive?”
She said she feels physically sick thinking about what happened to her son and the constant pain he has been enduring for months.
The mum said Binnings had put her family through “hell” and said what he did was “unforgivable”.
The victim’s father said: “When I received the phone call that my son had been seriously stabbed at McDonald’s in Bristol, my heart was broken.
“I had no idea what to expect on arrival at the hospital. Seeing my son in intensive care, attached to life support machines, was frightening. They told me they could not promise that the bleeding would stop.
“I got on my knees and prayed. I couldn’t sleep, eat, go to work, nothing. Seeing my son out of hospital is a blessing, however his life has changed forever.”
The victim’s siblings also described the day of the attack as the “most painful and traumatic day of our lives”.
Binnings, of Fishponds, denied attempted murder but was found guilty following a four-day trial, after the jury was shown CCTV of the incident and heard from eye-witnesses.
The footage showed the victim trying to run away from Binnings and holding his hands up in defence.
After the attack, Binnings fled and escaped, despite being chased by a police officer who was patrolling the city centre at the time. He was identified and arrested a few days later.
Several members of the public went to his victim’s aid, including an off-duty nurse, before more officers and the ambulance service arrived.
Senior Investigating Officer DI Hannah Marsh said: “The public should be left in no doubt this was a truly horrendous attack on a teenager in the middle of a crowded fast food restaurant.
“We would like to reiterate our thanks to all who rushed to the boy’s aid. Emergency medical care, coupled with a degree of good fortune, means he survived an attack which on another day could have been fatal.
“Nevertheless, the physical and mental effect this has had on the victim should not be underestimated.
“I am sure the emotional words from the victim’s family will strike a chord with any parent or guardian, as their lives have been turned upside down by what happened. The serious consequences of knife crime are clearly demonstrated by the heartfelt words the family have prepared for this sentencing hearing.
“The victim and his family have shown phenomenal courage throughout our investigation and the subsequent trial and we appreciate their support while we have investigated what happened, which has led to Binnings today beginning a significant prison sentence.”