Two men from the Isle of Wight have been jailed for six years each following a violent knifepoint robbery that resulted in a teenager being stabbed in the eye.
Dylan Doughty, 22, with no fixed address, and Ashley Jones, 21, of High Street, Ryde, pleaded guilty to five counts of robbery at Newport Crown Court.
The pair targeted five friends who were walking home after a night out in Ryde just after midnight on October 13. The attackers approached the group on Swanmore Road, threatening them with a knife and demanding valuables.
During the frightening incident, an 18-year-old from Ventnor was stabbed under his eyelid. Medical professionals later confirmed that the teenager was fortunate not to lose his eyesight. He continues to recover from serious eye injuries sustained in the attack.
Police were able to quickly identify and arrest Doughty and Jones after a photo related to the incident went viral on social media. Both men were found in possession of stolen items taken during the robbery.
Both offenders were sentenced to six years in prison, with an additional three years on licence.
Detective Constable Lee Parker said: “This was a terrifying attack on a group of friends who were simply walking home after a night out together. This could have easily ended with a teenager losing his eyesight, it is sheer luck that this didn’t happen. This was a totally random attack and I’m pleased that these two dangerous men are safely behind bars. I would like to thank the victims for their bravery throughout this investigation and to all the witnesses who spoke to us and shared what they knew to ensure these two no longer posed a risk to those living and working on the island.”
Originally published by UKNIP.
