Eight jailed for 75 years combined after attempted murder in Coventry

Eight men have been jailed for more than 75 years combined after a teenager was left with multiple stab wounds following a brutal attack in Coventry city centre.

Officers secured the convictions of the men - all aged between 19 and 21 - after the victim was chased by a group armed with weapons during the early hours of 6 October last year.

The 19-year-old man was found in Upper Precinct with serious injuries but due to the quick actions of members of the public and emergency services his life was saved.

A large-scale investigation was launched by detectives in Coventry and while the reasons for what happened still remain unclear, a sequence of events was pieced together to identify all those involved.

The victim had been at a music event when afterwards he was chased by the group.

Initially, he was attacked by Prince Lhamy and Pious Adabie who struck the teenager with weapons.

The victim tried to flee but only managed to run a short distance before he was set upon again, with more of the group joining in.

Alexander Nzola, Jaiden Grant, Zachary Williams, Kennedy Ikwuemesi, Eniola Akingbesote and Hossame Madmoune either produced weapons or kicked him before they all fled.

The investigation led by officers from Coventry Local Policing Area was one of the biggest since the new policing model last Spring and saw an extensive review of CCTV and phone records.

Alongside other enquiries it resulted in all eight men being arrested within weeks of the attack at locations across the West Midlands, London and Brighton.

At Warwick Crown Court the following were sentenced to:

• Williams, aged 19, of Paradise Street, Coventry, was jailed for 22 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.

• Adabie, aged 20, of Cliveland Street, Birmingham, jailed for 21 years after being found guilty of attempted murder.

• Lhamy, aged 21 of Whitefriars Lane, Coventry, jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of wounding with intent, possession of a bladed weapon and violent disorder.

• Ikwuemesi, aged 21, of Whitefriars Lane, Coventry, was jailed for four years and nine months affter being found guilty of wounding and violent disorder.

• Madmoune, aged 19, of no fixed address, was jailed for four years and nine months after being found guilty of wounding and violent disorder.

• Nzola, aged 21, of Bishop Street, Coventry, jailed for 4 years after being found guilty of wounding and violent disorder.

• Grant, aged 19, of Staniforth Street, Birmingham, was jailed for 4 years after being found guilty of wounding and violent disorder.

• Akingbesote, aged 21, of Bagot Street, Birmingham, was given an 18-month community order after admitting possession of an offensive weapon.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Jobson, from Coventry LPA, said: "This was extreme violence and these men have quite rightly lost their freedom.

"There's no justification for carrying a weapon and it’s just sheer fortune the victim was not even more seriously injured.

“We won’t accept this type of behaviour in our city and we’ll continue to take action to get knives off the streets.

"We'll always look to prosecute those involved in carrying them or involved in serious violence."