A 20-year-old has been jailed for a violent and unprovoked stabbing in Sudbury last year.

Sydney Espulien was sentenced to eight years behind bars after admitting to grievous bodily harm at Harrow Crown Court. It followed an attack at Hamptons Food and Wine in Harrow Road on June 20.

The victim, a 22-year-old man, was found by police in the shop doorway with stab wounds to his body and taken by ambulance to hospital in a serious condition. He had been waiting for a cab after enjoying a night out in a pub with friends when some of his group went to talk to Espulien, who he did not know.

An argument and fight soon broke with the friends running away. But the suspect then approached the victim, who fled and was chased into the 24-hour convenience shop where he was stabbed several times. The suspect then left the scene, only to return to stab the victim again and hit him over the head with a heavy object.

Espulien, from Harrow Road, was arrested on June 23, but denied involvement in the attack.

Police used forensic and CCTV evidence to charge Espulien, and he was also picked out in an identity parade.

Following the sentencing at Harrow Crown Court on Friday (Jan 23), DC Ama Uppal from Brent CID said: " This was a violent, unprovoked attack which left the victim with serious injuries.
“Thankfully this violent man is behind bars for a few years to come."