Welwyn Garden City man jailed for more than seven years after stabbing
Douglas initially denied all charges, but changed his pleas to guilty in May 2025.
A man from Welwyn Garden City has been jailed for seven years and two months after stabbing a man and carrying out a series of offences across the town.
Aaron Douglas, 23, of Beehive Lane, was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday 21st October after pleading guilty to 16 offences, including causing grievous bodily harm, threats to kill, possession of knives and multiple criminal damages.
At around 7.30pm on Monday 26th February 2024, Douglas followed a man in his 30s as he left a fish and chip shop on Hall Grove. Wearing a mask, he attacked the man as he tried to get into his car, stabbing him several times in the abdomen and right forearm.
Douglas fled the scene and then went on to use a knife to slash tyres on numerous vehicles in both Panshanger and Little Gannet between 26th and 28th February. Police linked him to the vandalism using forensic evidence from a discarded energy drink can.
On 28th February, Douglas threatened to kill another man in his 60s.
He was arrested the same day and has remained in custody since.
Douglas initially denied all charges, but changed his pleas to guilty in May 2025.
Douglas received a sentence of seven years and two months in prison, with a further three years to be served on licence.
The offences included:
- One count of grievous bodily harm
- One count of threats to kill
- Two counts of possession of a knife
- Twelve counts of criminal damage (slashing car tyres)
District Chief Inspector Pete Frost said, “I welcome this sentence of more than seven years for the pain and suffering that Aaron Douglas has put his victims through. Thanks to the victims’ bravery and members of the public reporting information, we have now put a dangerous offender behind bars for a considerable amount of time.
“Behaviour of this sort will not be tolerated in Hertfordshire, and I want to praise the work of my detectives who I hope have brought reassurance to the community of Welwyn Hatfield by achieving this result.”