Two men guilty for ‘harrowing’ knife attack on a teenager that made his heart stop

Two men have been found guilty for the brutal knife attack on a teenage boy which left him with extensive injuries to his organs and  neurological damage.

The extent of the injuries mean that James Bascoe-Smith, 18, will never fully recover.

Today, at the Central Criminal Court, Leon Alan Rashid, 20, of Dunheved Road, Thornton Heath and Taiquane Lewis, 19, of Kennington Park Road, Kennington were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.

James was aged 16 when he was attacked while test riding a bike his mother had bought near his home in Lambeth last February. 

James, now 18, has undergone a series of operations since the merciless assault.

James’ auntie, Rachel Duncan, said: “The family are thankful for the justice that has been served today and hope that we can now live our lives in peace knowing that these violent offenders are off our streets.

“We thank all involved that brought these people to justice.

“We now plead with those who carry knives and weapons to cause serious harm or to kill, to stop this now, because life can change in an instant or in a minute but the impact can be life changing.” 

Police were called to Henry Road at around 6.15pm on February 23, 2021, to reports of a stabbing.

Emergency services found James with multiple stab injuries.

He was treated at the scene and, as they began to transport James to hospital in the back of an ambulance, his heart stopped beating and he stopped breathing.

James was defibrillated four times. On the fourth attempt, his heart began beating again.

CCTV footage from the scene showed a Range Rover sped down the road and ran James over, with a VW Passat still in convoy.

Witnesses described seeing James on the ground, surrounded by a group of men stabbing and slashing at him. 

Onlookers saw sparks flying from underneath the Range Rover as it made off, caused by James’s bicycle being dragged underneath before someone in the car got out and moved it.

Five knives were recovered from the scene – two from the VW Passat – some of which were covered in blood.

James video-called his mother to tell her that he had been stabbed, and that he was dying.

The Range Rover was found abandoned by police the following morning, smelling strongly of cleaning products.

Rashid was identified through DNA evidence – his had been found on one on the knives with James’ blood on it.

CCTV also showed him running away from near to where the VW Passat was abandoned.

Lewis was identified after his DNA was recovered on the VW Passat. During a search of his bedroom, officers found knives which were the same type as those used during the offence.

His DNA was also found in the Range Rover. 

Detective Inspector Yasser Awad said: “The attack James suffered was about as sinister and violent as it can possibly get. He was a young boy at the time, who was alone, and he was outnumbered and attacked completely without warning.

“In my years as a police officer I have investigated some harrowing cases. What happened to James is among the worst I have encountered. The strength shown by his family after that ordeal, and the ensuing trial, is utterly incredible.”

Pictured top: Leon Alan Rashid and Taiquane Lewis (Picture: The Met)