Three men from Bristol jailed over brutal Boxing Day attempted murder
Trio given lengthy prison sentences at Bristol Crown Court
Three men have been jailed for attempted murder following a Boxing Day attack in Bristol that left a 24-year-old man with life-changing injuries.
The victim was stabbed multiple times on Gloucester Road, Bristol, on the evening of 26th December 2023 after visiting a restaurant with friends. He suffered devastating injuries in the attack, including a fractured eye socket, collapsed lung, and stab wounds to his face, chest, neck, and other parts of his body.
At Bristol Crown Court today, Tayshon Graham, aged 21, Cain Henderson, 25, and Reuben Fay, 20, received lengthy prison sentences. Graham was sentenced to 23 years for attempted murder. Henderson will serve 27 years, including four years for drug offences, while Fay was handed a total of 28 years, combining five years for an aggravated burglary conviction with his attempted murder sentence.
All three men denied attempted murder but had admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. A jury convicted them of the more serious charge in October.
A fourth man, 22-year-old Ajay Edwards, was cleared of attempted murder but pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He was sentenced to six years in prison, with two years deducted for his guilty plea.
The events on Boxing Day
The prosecution outlined that the attack stemmed from conflict between rival groups known locally as the 16s and the 24s.
On the evening of 26th December 2023, the victim, a member of the 16s, along with five friends, visited a restaurant on Gloucester Road. Approximately 40 minutes later, Edwards, Fay, and Graham entered the same restaurant, covering their faces with hoodies.
After leaving the restaurant, Edwards, Fay, and Graham made phone calls to Henderson and waited outside. At 10:41 pm, as the victim and his friends left the restaurant, CCTV footage showed them sprinting south down Gloucester Road.
The victim tripped and fell as he ran, at which point Edwards, Graham, and Fay attacked him. Fay and Graham stabbed him repeatedly while Edwards kicked him. Henderson arrived soon after and chased the victim’s friends, while CCTV footage indicated all three men carried large knives.
Although Henderson did not physically harm the victim, the prosecution argued he was equally responsible for the attempted murder due to his role in the joint attack.
‘Shocking and brutal’ attack
Rachael Scott of the Crown Prosecution Service described the attack as “shocking and brutal,” stating, “The injuries to the victim were so devastating that there can be no doubt Fay, Graham, and Henderson intended to kill or at least cause very serious harm.”
Scott also highlighted the life-changing nature of the victim’s injuries and the importance of working with police and partner agencies to tackle knife crime effectively.
All men involved in the attack received prison sentences today, marking their acknowledgment of their roles in the joint violence.