The family of a teenage boy who was stabbed at a McDonald’s in Bristol has bravely shared their lasting pain as the man responsible was jailed. The unidentified 16-year-old was left with life-changing wounds after a four-month long hospital stay after Joel Binnings attacked him at the fast food restaurant in the Horsefair in February this year.
Binnings, 20 and from Fishponds, was jailed for 18 years after he was convicted of guilty of attempted murder over the attack. The defendant denied the charge but was found guilty by a jury after a four-day trial last month.
Bristol Crown Court heard prepared statements from the young victim’s family which detailed the pain they have been in since the boy was gravely injured. His mother described the night of the attack, February 8, as the “worst night of my life”.
She said: “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?”
The mum added that she felt “physically sick” remembering what had happened to her son and the constant pain he has endured in the months that followed. She added Binnings had put her family through ‘hell’ and described what he did as ‘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 8 February as the “most painful and traumatic day of our lives”.
Senior investigating officer DI Hannah Marsh said the victim and his family showed “phenomenal courage” during the investigation and trial. She 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 beginning a significant prison sentence.”