Chilling Knife Attack in Rustington: Man Stabbed Twice by Neighbour
On the afternoon of November 2, 2021, a peaceful day in Rustington turned violent when a 66-year-old man was brutally stabbed outside his home in Elm Place.
Stabbed Without Warning
The victim was cleaning paintbrushes outside his property when David Graham, his own neighbour living in the flat above, suddenly lunged at him. Without any provocation, Graham stabbed the man in the chest. As the victim tried to flee, he was stabbed again in the back.
Desperate Fight for Survival
The man collapsed and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery. Meanwhile, Graham fled the scene in his car, vanishing from sight for two days.
Neighbour Turned Attacker Caught
Police tracked down Graham at another address in the village and arrested him two days after the attack. Once on good terms, the relationship between the two men had soured over time. Graham refused to explain his violent actions, answering “no comment” in police interviews.
Harsh Sentencing for Gruesome Assault
David Graham pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent. At Lewes Crown Court on 12 April, he was sentenced to a hefty 7½ years behind bars.
“This was an unprovoked attack in which Graham intentionally wounded his neighbour and left him for dead,” said Detective Constable Carter. “Thanks to the victim’s quick-thinking wife who called 999 immediately, he received life-saving emergency care.”
“The use of knives can have devastating consequences. We’re committed to working with partners to deliver education and enforcement against such violent crime.”
