A thug repeatedly stabbed a defenseless cyclist over a stolen bike, a court heard. The victim was taken off the motorcycle by a BMW before Reece Lowndes jumped from the passenger seat and delivered a flying kick that sent him crashing to the ground.
Lowndes then plunged a knife into the back of the victim, who lay defenseless on the ground, narrowly missing one of his organs, the Liverpool Echo reported.
It was previously reported in 2021 that a teenage Lowndes ran through the streets of St Helens brandishing a seven-inch kitchen knife while being pursued by police following reports from concerned members of the public. Liverpool Crown Court heard in that incident a female PC eventually caught up to the 19-year-old but punched him in the face and knocked him to the ground.
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Zahra Baqri, who joined the prosecution, described how Lowndes then dropped the gun before jumping from a bridge to empty land some 10-15ft below. Despite his efforts to escape, he was caught at the scene.
Louise McCloskey, representing Lowndes, said there were “clear concerns about substance misuse” for her client. “If these two factors, alcohol and drug use, were addressed, this young man’s risk of harming society would be reduced,” She said.
Lowndes, then of Derbyshire Hill Road in St Helens, pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker and possessing a bladed instrument in a public place. He was locked up for a year.
Recorder Simon Parrington told him: “Your personal protection was not a reasonable excuse. Whatever you thought at the time, it is not a reasonable excuse.”
The same court heard last week that a man named James Gregory was cycling along Cooper Street in St Helens at around 4pm on September 12 last year when he was rear-ended by a black BMW 1 Series driven by co-defendant Connor Richards. CCTV footage of Lowndes, who was captured nearby, sitting in the front passenger seat and jumping out of the car while it was still in motion.
Prosecutor Stella Hayden told how he approached the complainant near an alley and immediately “delivered a high kick”, knocking her to the ground. The 23-year-old man, of Chiltern Road, then began showering him with kicks and punches before stabbing him in the back.
One of the witnesses, Alison Garside, recalled seeing Mr Gregory “lying on the ground defenseless” as he was attacked. Another woman, Jane Miller, screamed “Stop, stop” as he punched and kicked her in the head.
Lowndes then cycled away on his Trek mountain bike and returned home in convoy by car; This was seen outside the address in dashcam footage taken by a police car shortly before 5.30pm. However, the vehicle had left before his arrest, at which point he fell from the upstairs ceiling while trying to escape from officers in the attic.
A bloody jacket was found on the property, while the bicycle was also found in the garden. The BMW was later located near Richards’ home and a lock knife was discovered on the front passenger seat, with Mr Gregory’s bloodstains on it and Lowndes’ DNA on the handle.
The complainant was taken to Aintree Hospital before being treated at the scene by paramedics. He suffered a single stab wound, which “fortunately” did not penetrate his lung, and a broken rib, for which a thoracic duct was inserted before he was discharged.
Richards, of Bridge Road, Prescot, went to St Helens Police Station on September 13 after being put on a wanted list. The 27-year-old young man admitted that he was the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident.
Lowndes has 13 previous convictions for 20 offences. These include charges of robbery, fighting, threatening with a knife, assault and assaulting an emergency worker.
Christopher Stables, defending, told the court: “This is a serious case and will be treated as such by the court. This was certainly not a planned incident.”
“The incident occurred that day because the accused saw his recently stolen bike being used by the complainant. He and the other accused took immediate action.”
“The incident essentially ended with the defendant receiving a single wound from the knife he was carrying. Fortunately, it turned out that there was no very serious injury.”
“I accept that this was largely the result of good luck and could have been much worse. He had very limited education.”
“His education ended abruptly when he was very young, when he was only 11 or 12. As a result, his employment prospects are limited.”
“He had held three full-time positions as a warehouse clerk in the past, but each was short-term. Overall, this young man’s life presents a very sad story.”
“He was earning little or no income from work and didn’t have many opportunities. He was regularly depressed and talked about suffering from depression and anxiety.”
“This was alleviated by regular cannabis use, which made the whole picture worse. It provides a rather sad background.”
Lowndes admitted wounding in a public place and possessing an offensive weapon. The artist, who appeared at HMP Altcourse via video link, replied “thank you” after being sentenced to 33 months in prison.
Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: “The CCTV footage makes it uncomfortable to watch. You kicked him, punched him and stabbed him in the back.”
“The injuries were stab wounds. Luckily it did not penetrate his lung.”
“This was more luck than a good decision. I accept it was impulsive and not planned.”
“You have a difficult past. You have an established pattern of violent behavior, including carrying a knife.”
“You have been using drugs since you were 11. Apparently you were out for a day before breaching your license in 2021.”
Richards, who has no previous convictions, was also supposed to learn his fate on Friday, but his case was adjourned for further reports before sentencing. He will appear in court again on May 17 and will be released on bail after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.
Judge Murray told him: “I am seriously considering sending you straight to prison. You must operate on the basis that that is what I would do.”