GYMNAST STABBED IN THE FOOT BY BOYFRIEND
Kieran Phillips, a resident of Sunderland, caused a woman to require stitches following a knife attack, and a court was told that the incident has affected her ability to compete and has also impacted her career as a gymnastics coach.During proceedings, it was revealed that the woman, a gymnast, was stabbed in the foot by Phillips using a Rambo-style knife.
She described the assault as having 'changed the course of her life,' noting that she has been unable to take part in the sport she loves since the attack.
Phillips's actions have left her physically injured and psychologically affected.
The victim’s relationship with Phillips lasted approximately three months.
On the day of the incident in July 2021, she was at her home in Sunderland, lying on her bed while using her phone.
Phillips entered the room holding the knife.
Previously, he had been seen throwing the weapon at various objects, stating that he preferred this particular blade because it was sharper than others.
Despite her request for him to put the knife away, he refused.
Judge Robert Adams said: "You hit the bed between her legs, cutting into the bedding and you were laughing, which was terrifying for her.
She tried to move her legs away from the knife.
"She felt something hit her right foot and there was a large cut to the top of her foot which was bleeding heavily and she then felt the pain of what had happened." She wrapped a scarf around her injured foot and shouted at Phillips, telling him he had hurt her, to which he replied "well you shouldn't have moved your legs".
He then told her not to call an ambulance and said she couldn't tell anyone or he would "do the other one".
The woman was transported to the hospital, where she provided a false explanation regarding how she sustained her injury, claiming it was caused by garden shears.
Phillips repeatedly questioned her about the incident’s details and made video calls to her when he was not at the hospital, trying to verify her account.
After receiving stitches, the woman had to clean up her own blood upon returning home.
Phillips declined to offer assistance and blamed her for the injury.
It was also revealed in court that a few weeks later, Phillips took a photograph showing a knife positioned next to her foot and claimed it demonstrated the knife’s dangerousness.
In her victim impact statement, the woman disclosed that she did not report the assault to police until three years later.
She explained that the injury initially impaired her ability to walk properly and disrupted her work as a gymnastics coach.
She had to take time off and leave early from her duties due to severe pain.
She added: "I can't reach my full potential because of the problems I suffered because of this assault.
I can't feel my big toe at all." She said she can no longer take part in competitive gymnastics, "something which has always been part of my life and something I love and this has had a devastating effect on me".
She added that her foot continues to swell and cause pain and her mental health has deteriorated.
She said: "What happened to me didn't just cause physical injury but has changed the course of my life.
"It's taken away my sense of safety and ability to enjoy a sport that was always part of who I am." The court heard Phillips, 22, of Westcliffe Road, Sunderland, said the injury was caused accidentally rather than intentionally and Judge Adams said that is probably right but that he was reckless.
Phillips, who was 17 at the time of the offence and had no convictions on his record, has since gone on to rack up what the judge called a "dreadful" list of offences, including having an offensive weapon, possessing drugs, battery and driving offences.
He pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and was given a five-year restraining order.
