Ex Targeted After Dumping Jailbird's Girl

A Leicester man is beginning a four-and-a-half year prison sentence for a violent knife attack on a man targeted for dumping a prisoner’s stepdaughter.

Nathaniel Williams, 26, of Amadis Road slashed the victim’s face and an unknown accomplice pierced the man’s liver with a knife during the nightime park attack.

Williams pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to maliciously wounding Dean Ferguson, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, in Highbury Avenue, Thornton Heath, South London on November 5, last year.

The victim fell foul of a notorious prisoner known as ‘Big H’ after leaving his stepdaughter and the court heard he was: “left for dead.”

Recorder Ian Peddie QC told Williams: “Mr. Ferguson had a short-lived sexual relationship with a woman whose relative sought to punish him and you were drawn into that desire to punish Mr. Ferguson.

“Foolishly or innocently Mr. Ferguson walked into a park (pictured) where you viciously set upon him with your accomplice, kicking and punching him to the ground, kicking him in the legs and face.

“Your accomplice produced a knife and slashed Mr. Ferguson to the face and you also slashed him to the face,” added Recorder Peddie. “This was a grievous assault on an innocent man.”

Prosecutor Miss Alison Barker told the court: “Mr. Ferguson had a short sexual relationship with Mr. H’s stepdaughter.

“The stepdaughter got very upset when the complainant left and Mr. H got very upset as well and Mr. Ferguson feared something would happen to him.”

The victim recruited Williams, who he assumed was a friend, to help him retrieve property stolen during a burglary, but things turned sour in the park.

“It was a joint attack. The complainant was punched and kicked a number of times,” explained Miss Barker. “They were going to hurt Mr. Ferguson for sleeping with the girl.

“The second man produced a knife and Williams told him not to stab Mr. Ferguson, but while being held on the ground in a strangle hold he was slashed across the face.

“Williams admits also cutting the victim’s face and he was then stabbed in the abdomen, while the defendant was kneeling on his arms.”

The pair fled and the victim was rushed to hospital after staggering to a nearby house.

Williams was eventually arrested on June 15, this year after police examined prison visit records for ‘Big H’.

The defendant’s lawyer Mr. Matthew Hardenham told the court: “He feared reprisals by those involved in the conspiracy against Mr. Ferguson. He was there because of threats of violence to himself and his family.

“There was nothing to suggest to Mr. Williams that Mr. Ferguson was going to be subjected to such a serious attack and left for dead.”