Man jailed for life after 'random, frenzied, and unprovoked' knife attack on couple in Exeter

• Watch the moment Leon Telemacque, charged with attempted murder, was tracked down and arrested

A man who repeatedly stabbed a young couple in a "frenzied, random, and unprovoked attack" in Exeter has been sentenced to life in prison.

Leon Telemacque will serve a minimum of 17 years behind bars for seriously wounding his victims - who were complete strangers to him - in May last year.

The 32-year-old, who admitted two charges of attempted murder, was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court today (January 8).

He stabbed the couple as they walked home from a bus stop, leaving them fearing for their lives.

One told the court: “I will be stuck with those scenes for the rest of my life.”

Telemacque said he had no memory of the attack when he was interviewed by police, adding: “If I did something wrong, then I did something wrong.”

The court heard how Telemacque, of St Clements Road, Birmingham, had travelled by coach from South Devon to Exeter on the afternoon of May 17, 2024.

He was captured on CCTV later that evening, hanging around a bus stop in the city centre.

The victims had seen a friend off from the bus stop around 2am on May 18, and were walking away when Telemacque followed and attacked them.

He stabbed both victims, and chased after them after they managed to fight him off.

He then walked away, unaware that a group of passers-by were guiding police officers to his location.

He tried to flee the area and threw the knife to the ground as he was arrested.

‘I thought we were both going to die’ - victim

Impact statements from both victims were read in court.

The male victim said: “I was terrified and thought we were both going to die when I saw that knife in his hand…I will be stuck with those scenes for the rest of my life.”

The female victim added: “At night, when I’m walking, I will keep looking back over my shoulder; I feel like I need to get out of wherever I am. I can’t get the fear out of my head. 

“I won’t forget the feeling of having someone trying to kill me and having to defend myself and to protect someone else.”

Telemacque was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 17 years, for two counts of attempted murder and one of possessing a knife in a public place.

If you have been affected by crime, please visit victimcare-dc.org to access support services and information on your rights and how to navigate the criminal justice system. 

You can also call Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111 or Devon and Cornwall Police’s Victim Care Unit on 01392 475900.