Hertfordshire teen jailed for stabbing woman in the eye leaving her partially blinded
A Hertfordshire teenager who stabbed a young woman in the eye as she made her way home after a night out has been jailed for 11 years.
Kai Ridgewell, 19, was seen behaving erratically in a Stevenage car park last December and was approached by his victim, who asked if he needed any help.
Ridgewell turned and stabbed her in the eye, causing serious and life-changing injuries.The woman was taken to hospital but despite extensive surgery was told by doctors that she would not be able to see out of her eye again.Ridgewell pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court in February, and was remanded into custody.
He appeared for sentencing at Huntingdon Crown Court on Friday where he was sentenced to 11 years in prison."This was an entirely unprovoked and horrific attack on a young woman who was simply walking home from a night out and had approached Ridgewell to offer help," Detective Constable Nathalia Smith said.
"She has now been left with life changing injuries, and sadly will never be able to see out of her eye again. I would like to commend her for the strength and bravery she has shown throughout this whole process."Whilst no sentence can make up for the horrific ordeal the victim has endured as a result of his actions, I hope that this lengthy sentence offers both her and her family a sense of justice and closure, knowing that Ridgewell will be spending a significant amount of time behind bars. I hope he uses his time in prison to reflect on the consequences of his actions."Everyone should be able to enjoy a night out and get home safely.
"Ridgewell’s behaviour was completely deplorable, and violence like this will absolutely not be tolerated in Hertfordshire."This investigation has been long and extensive, involving hours of examining CCTV footage and identifying possible witnesses. Let this serve as a warning to anyone involved in criminality in Hertfordshire: we will do whatever it takes to track offenders down, get them off our streets and bring them to justice, especially those who endanger others by carrying weapons," she added.