“I have to live with the physical pain and mental anguish everyday.” The words of Craig who was stabbed in a Wiltshire town and left for dead.
Craig was walking to his car when a man he knew approached him and started to verbally abuse him. Craig tried to reason with him but it seemed fruitless. As he turned to walk away the man produced a knife and stabbed him through the elbow and in to his torso – missing his heart by millimeters.
Craig was stabbed with a 12 inch kitchen knife causing a large open wound to the side of his body: “Time has passed but I still have to live with the physical and mental pain of that attack – I’m on pain killers and struggle with anxiety. It’s something I am going to have to live with for the rest of my life and the long scar on my body, the one I see when I wake up, is a daily reminder too.”
Craig grew up in London and was involved in a gang, he knows what it’s like to be part of that world – he admits he was fortunate to get out of that scene when his dad brought him and his family to Wiltshire in the 90’s.
“I know most of those who carry out knife crime don’t think of the longer term consequences – it’s not just the victim and the victim’s family who are affected but everyone connected to the person doing the crime. They go to prison and their family’s reputation is wrecked, the devastation caused by them going to prison is immense.
“Most kids carrying knives are terrified – they’re doing it because they think the next guy has a bigger weapon – they say to themselves: ‘I’ll carry this dagger because the other guy has a machete’ and so it goes on, it’s a difficult circle to break as they just don’t get that carrying a weapon isn’t the answer. Sadly, many won’t understand until it’s too late and some one dies.”
Craig spends a lot of time reflecting on that fateful night: “Looking back I wished I had just walked away from this individual – but I wanted to know why he was abusing me and goading me in to fighting him. I know I should have left and it was that mistake which almost cost me my life.
“I now teach my boy to always walk or run away from trouble – I’ve lost friends who didn’t run and now they’re dead.
“The police knife amnesty is a great idea – if it gets knives off the streets then it’s got to be a good thing and lives will be potentially saved.”
Craig is now slowly picking his life up – he did have ambitions of being a body builder but his near fatal attack put a stop to that for now. However, he is hoping to be able to become a personal trainer one day soon.
The knife man was convicted and remains in prison.
Craig’s story is part of our Op Sceptre fortnight – the national knife crime prevention initiative launched last week along with our knife amnesty which is running until Sunday 30 September.
During the period of the amnesty those handing in knives and weapons will not face prosecution for possession of a knife or weapon and can remain anonymous.
Knife amnesty bins are available at six specified police stations across the county:
Swindon’s Gablecross Police Station
Marlborough Police Station
Melksham Police Station
Chippenham’s Monkton Park
Trowbridge Police Station
and the Temporary Police Station at the rear of Five Rivers Leisure Centre in Salisbury.
Anyone handing in a knife or weapon during the amnesty is advised to check the opening times of their station by visiting the Wiltshire Police website or calling 101.
If you have information about someone who carries a knife or is involved knife crimes please call us on 101 or 999 in an emergency. Information can also be left anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
