Sheffield man suffered life-threatening buttock wound when his zombie knife was turned on him
A Sheffield man left an acquaintance with a life-threatening injury to his buttock after stabbing him with a zombie knife in a row over money.
Kyle Marsden, of Foxwood Grove, Intake, Sheffield, carried out the stabbing at the victim’s home, after he failed to repay money Marsden had lent him.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how the victim became fearful of an altercation, as tension between the pair grew.
He armed himself with a ‘zombie knife,’ which Marsden subsequently turned on him and stabbed him once to the buttock, severing an artery in the process, a hearing on June 26, 2024 heard.
Describing the circumstances of the stabbing, Judge Charles Thomas told Marsden: “It appears the origin of this offence began with a row about money you lent to [the victim] - someone you had known for years - and were on friendly terms with.”
“For whatever reason that row about the money you lent him escalated…and you went round to his home address to confront him.
“On the day, he clearly feared what was going to happen, and that it may lead to violence. He unwisely armed himself with what has been described as a rambo knife.”
Referring to Marsden’s basis of plea concerning what happened next - which has been accepted by prosecutors - Judge Thomas continued: “He [the victim] came at you with the knife. You were able to disarm him with the knife, but you then used it in excessive self-defence and stabbed him in the buttock. You then left.
“It severed an artery in his buttock and caused him to go into hemorrhagic shock. When he arrived at the hospital, his blood pressure was too low to measure because of the amount of blood lost. His condition was described as life-threatening at the time.”
The victim’s injuries were described as ‘life changing’ by Judge Thomas, and through the two statements he submitted to the court, he said his life had been affected ‘beyond recognition’ by the incident.
Describing the physical consequences of his injury, the victim said he had been left with nerve damage, which has resulted in him having ‘constant pain’ in his legs, meaning he struggles to sleep and has also been forced to endure periods of incontinence.
He also described the pervasive and continuing psychological impact, which includes suffering from depression and anxiety, feeling too afraid to leave the house and becoming isolated due to not being able to attend social events with his family.
“This will stay with me for the rest of my life…I feel like I’ve lost myself, and the person I was before,” he said.
Marsden was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, wounding at an earlier hearing.
Defending, Andrew Bailey told the court that more than three years has passed since the incident in January 2021, and Marsden was then aged 22, and is now 26.
“It’s a very old offence…he looks forward to putting this behind him,” said Mr Bailey.
He told the court that he was not seeking to ‘victim blame’ but added that the complainant had armed himself with a knife and suggested Marsden, who has no previous convictions, ‘is not the sort of young man who would have used one’.
“Mr Marsden regrets what happened. He is appropriately remorseful, but he was provoked. He hopes for a full recovery for the complainant,” continued Mr Bailey.
He referred Judge Thomas to the ‘exceptional’ references submitted on Marsden’s behalf, and said 'everyone speaks about him in glowing terms’.
Mr Bailey described Marsden as an ‘exceptional and hard worker’ and said he has caring responsibilities for his parents.
Judge Thomas sentenced Marsden to two years’ imprisonment, but said he felt able to suspend it for two years due to his ‘very good personal mitigation,’ realistic prospect of rehabilitation and lack of previous convictions.
“I’m satisfied you won’t be back before a court such as this again,” said Judge Thomas.
He also made Marsden the subject of a nine-month curfew, which will be in place between 7pm and 5am, ordered him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, and to pay the victim 3,000 in compensation.
Judge Thomas also granted a restraining order, prohibiting Marsden from contacting the victim for five years.