Man gets 11 years in jail for birthday party stabbings

An 18-year-old man suffered a stab wound to his stomach which was initially life threatening, and a man, aged 20, was stabbed in the leg after a fight broke out at the party being held near the Crawley Lawn Tennis Club in Hazelwick Avenue at 3.45am on July 7 last year.

Thomas Mahasoh, 41, a waiter, of Stratford Road, Hockley Heath, Solihull, was sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Thursday (January 9).

He had pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial but changed his plea to guilty part way through, of two counts of grievous bodily harm.

All three men had been at the party, held by a relative of Mahasoh, when a fight started and spilled out into the street where the victims were stabbed.

Police thanked local people for their support during an investigation.

Detective Inspector Mark Cullimore said; “Mahasoh quickly fled the scene and soon afterwards drove home to Solihull, but was later identified with the help of some brave witnesses who contacted the police.

“Thankfully both victims have recovered.

“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences he committed and we are very grateful for the assistance of local people particularly in the local Zimbabwean community, whose understanding was invaluable.

“They can be re-assured by the outcome that police will always take this type of incident seriously and will work to support local law-abiding people.”