'The damage to me is profound': Victim speaks out as chip shop knife attacker is jailed for 14 years

A knifeman was jailed for 14 years today for stabbing a chip shop manager in a frenzied attack that took place in front of the victim's 16-year-old daughter.

Leon McTaggart, 29, was found guilty of grievous bodily harm after knifing Narinder Sidhu, 51, in Oldbury last November.

McTaggart was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court today by Judge John Warner who told him: "I do not know why you acted as you did, whether you were on drugs or not. It was irrational behaviour of the most violent kind and you are a man who had no previous history of serious violence."

The stabbing took place in Simply Fish and Chips

The court heard during the trial of McTaggart, who was living in a hostel on Hagley Road, Edgbaston and on bail at the time after throwing a phone at a police officer, launched the motiveless attack on Mr Sidhu at the Simply Fish and Chip shop in Hagley Road West, Oldbury.

He had been a customer there before but on this occasion was behaving strangely banging his fists on the counter but did not place an order before storming out of the premises, smashing a window in the front door as he left.

Mr Sidhu was attacked outside the shop after he went to see where McTaggart had gone. He did not realise he had been stabbed until told by his distressed daughter, who was in the shop, and rushed to help.

In a victim personal statement to the court, Narinder Sidhu explained the effects the stabbing has had on his life:

"The damage this attack has left on my body is profound. Although I am making progress in my recovery, I fear I will never truly appreciate the extent of my injuries and now have genuine anxiety my life has been shortened as a result.

"My injuries have affected me beyond the physical wounds. I suffer sleepless nights and I am unable to drive or work and constantly struggle to be comfortable as sitting and lying down are all painful to me ? it is a rarity I have true rest.

"My poor daughter actually witnessed her father being stabbed in front of her. I cannot begin to imagine how this made her feel and there is a long road ahead to recovery ? both for me and my family."

Dc Martin O'Neil said: "We are satisfied with this sentence, which reflects the grave nature and severity of McTaggart's attack.

"The premeditated carrying of a weapon further demonstrates the danger McTaggart posed to the public.