"Dangerous" Portsmouth man caught on camera knifing man in stomach is jailed
A “dangerous” man caught on camera sinking a knife into a man on a busy Portsmouth street has been jailed.
Gary Baldacchino, 39, of London Road, Portsmouth, was found guilty after trial of unlawful wounding and possession of a knife/blade in a public place following the “savage” attack in front of horrified locals.
He was arrested and charged after a 53-year-old man was knifed in the stomach at 12.32pm on Wednesday 5 February on Kingston Road, near to Kingston Crescent. Police later revealed the man was in a “serious but stable” condition.
Baldacchino was sent for trial before being found guilty in August having denied the offences. The case also involved an 18-year-old woman from Portsmouth who was also arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and conspiracy to murder before being bailed. She has now been released with no further action.
The incident, which was captured on camera, prompted a massive police response at the scene before the victim was taken to hospital for treatment for an injury to his stomach - which was initially described by police as “serious” and “potentially life threatening”.
A social media video which recorded the incident showed a scrap involving two men - one of whom was brandishing a knife - before another man nearby was stabbed by Baldacchino. Police said the man involved in the initial altercation “was not injured”.
Appearing via video-link from HMP Winchester at Bournemouth Crown Court, Baldacchino faced justice for his crime. He was jailed for four years and handed an extended licence period of one year after recorder Malcolm Gibney deemed him to be a “danger” to the public. “He has multiple offences of possession of blades in public places,” the judge told the court.
A pre-sentence report concluded the defendant had a “high risk of harm to the public”, while the court also heard Baldacchino posed a risk of “serious harm” to Class A users and his partners - with him having an “established history of carrying weapons”. Prosecutor Leigh Hart added that Baldacchino was a medium risk of harm to children and prisoners.
The court heard how the attack left the victim with permanent scarring. Meanwhile, Baldacchino wanted to move on from the incident, with him interrupting recorder Gibney to tell him: “I just want to get on with my life.” The recorded responded: “I don’t want to hear from you. That’s why you are represented.”
The attack caused shock in the area at the time with a spokesperson for nearby Lalys Pharmacy previously saying the incident started on the street before the victim sought help in the pharmacy. “The victim staggered to the pharmacy where our staff were able to attend to his wounds until the ambulance crew took over,” they said.
One business owner said at the time: “I turned up to chaos. There were police and paramedics everywhere. It was carnage.
“There were all sorts of rumours flying about but it was at least good to hear (from the police) it wasn’t a random attack. It was of some comfort to know there wasn’t a lunatic on the loose running about. It’s savage what happened in broad daylight. It’s business as usual today.”
Another local said: “It’s a shame and very sad. But there’s a lot of trouble here. It’s a magnet for trouble. There’s lots of families nearby too which makes it even worse. The area is dangerous and something needs to be done.”
A 23-year-old man, 50-year-old woman and a 19-year-old-woman all from Portsmouth who were originally arrested as part of police enquiries were released with no further action.