Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a violent attack that left a man with life-threatening injuries after he tried to assist their friend at Whitstable railway station last December.
Lewis Day, 26, of Hereson Road, Ramsgate, was sentenced to 14 and a half years in prison, with an additional three and a half years on licence. Daryl Brown, 33, of Elm Grove, Westgate-on-Sea, received a three and a half-year sentence for the attack, which took place on the night of 16 December 2023. Both men were sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 26 November 2024.
The Incident
The attack began after the victim, a man in his 50s, retrieved and handed over a phone belonging to a female friend of Day and Brown. Brown mistakenly believed the victim was attempting to steal the phone and threw a beer can at him from the opposite platform. When the victim threw the can back, Brown and Day chased him out of the station.
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The pair caught up with the victim in a nearby alleyway, where he was repeatedly stabbed by Day. The attackers then returned to the station, leaving the victim in the alley with severe injuries.
Witness and Arrests
A bystander at the station overheard Day and Brown arguing about the stabbing and saw them engage in a physical altercation. Day boarded a train, while Brown remained in Whitstable.
The witness, concerned for the victim, left the station and found the injured man in the alleyway. He flagged down passing cars to summon emergency services, who rushed the victim to a London hospital.
Police arrested Brown nearby and detained Day at Margate station. Both were charged after detectives collected witness statements and reviewed CCTV footage.
Sentencing and Charges
Day was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while Brown was found guilty of unlawful wounding. Day’s sentence reflects the severity of the crime, with an extended licence period due to the danger he poses to the public.
Police Statement
Detective Constable Matthew Burridge, who led the investigation, condemned the offenders’ actions:
“This was a horrific attack on a man who had just tried to help their friend.
These two men showed complete disregard for the victim’s life, leaving him to die in an alleyway. Were it not for the courage and quick thinking of a witness, this could have been a fatal assault.
I hope these sentences provide some relief to the victim and his family, knowing these dangerous men are off the streets.”
Community Praise
Police praised the witness for his intervention and testimony, which were critical in bringing the offenders to justice.
The victim, who sustained serious injuries, is continuing his recovery. While the attack has had a profound impact on him and his family, authorities hope the sentencing will offer some measure of closure.
