Brothers carried out savage Christmas axe attack on sleeping victim

The victim, who needed two blood transfusions, recalled 'feeling my life draining away'

Two brothers carried out a Christmas Eve axe attack on their mother’s partner as the victim slept in his own bed. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Leon Oakden-Gostling set on the factory worker with the weapon, which he took to the scene of the assault in Nottinghamshire, while his older brother Reece Oakden was also in the room.

In a victim impact statement, the Romanian man told how as he removed the blade from his left shoulder he recalled “feeling my life draining away”. Now the pair have been jailed for a combined total of 15 years.

Judge Julie Warburton said: “Having heard the evidence at the trial I have no doubt you went to the address that night with the sole intention of causing him serious harm. You arrived, went straight to the bedroom, there was no pause for thought and he was taken entirely by surprise.

"It was a vicious attack and entirely gratuitous and I am satisfied you took the axe to the premises with the intention of using it. Having taken him by surprise you hit him twice - once to the arm and the second one aimed at his head which was only deflected away from it by his arm.

"What you did will have a long term and permanent effect on (the victim). He felt his life draining away from him and he thought he was going to die. "

Julia King, prosecuting, said the attack happened at an address in Furnival Street, Worksop, at around 11pm on Christmas Eve last year. A trial heard how officers from Nottinghamshire attended the house following reports the man had been struck with the axe. The victim was taken to hospital after sustaining wounds to his shoulder and arm.

Miss King said: “The victim was obviously vulnerable given that he was asleep and in bed at the time of the assault and the offence involved the use of a highly-dangerous weapon.

“Medical intervention included two blood transfusions. He was initially assaulted in bed and there was an altercation between both defendants in the bedroom. Leon Oakden-Gostling left the room briefly then returned within one-to-two seconds holding the axe.

“The victim received a 25cm wound to the left shoulder and an open fracture to the left upper arm.”

Miss King read out a two victim impact statement made by the man who was attacked. In the first one he said: “I do not wish what I went through on anyone. After I managed to take the axe out of my arm I remember saying ‘no, no’. I thought my life was draining away from me and I thought I was going to die.

“I just kept seeing the axe coming towards me and I can’t understand why they would want to take my life. We have a saying in Romania of ‘I have seen my own death in my own eyes’ meaning I came close to death. Since it happened I now keep looking over my shoulder all the time."

And in the second statement he said: “I was left with two extensive scars and these are marks that will forever be a physical reminder of the terrible incident I went through.”

Oakden-Gostling, 19, of Furnival Street, Worksop, went on trial for attempted murder but was acquitted. He had previously pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and has a previous conviction for engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour.

He was jailed for six years. Marie Spenwyn, mitigating, said her client pleaded guilty to the lesser charge at the earliest opportunity.

She said: “He was 18 at the time and is perhaps not as mature as other 18 year olds. There are letters from his grandmother and a close family friend who speak of a different person to the one the court heard about at the trial.”

Father-of-four Oakden, 28, of Queen Elizabeth Crescent, Worksop, was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He has convictions for offences including possession of a CS gas canister and going equipped for theft. He was sent to prison for nine years.

Mark Knowles, his barrister, said: “He always maintained that he arrived after his brother who came into the room with the weapon. He has worked hard to provide for his family, he’s the main breadwinner.

“He has children aged eight, seven, four and seven months and he did not see the birth of the youngest one. Clearly it was a monumental error of judgement to even enter the house that day.

“He is a class 1 HGV driver and was on a very good income and all that is gone.”