Man jailed after stabbing in Watford High Street

O'Dean Boothe, 22, lunged at the 19-year-old with a blade near Costa Coffee in front of "shocked" shoppers on February 7 2020.

St Albans Crown Court heard Boothe was caught on CCTV stabbing the victim, who was on a bike, in his upper left chest at around 4.45pm.

Police say the victim threw a chair at Boothe in retaliation before Boothe ran from the scene to a waiting BMW in Smith Street.

The stab victim then left the high street and made his way up Queens Road towards Costcutter where he received treatment inside the shop before being flown by helicopter to a hospital in London.

Emergency services in Queens Road in Watford on February 7 2020. Credit: JamPond Photography

At a sentencing hearing today (January 17), Judge Michael Simon told the court that Boothe, of White Hart Lane, Tottenham, was "fortunate" the punctured lung sustained by the victim was not as "serious" as first thought and he was able to be discharged the following day.

The judge said it was unclear exactly what type of weapon was used to stab the 19-year-old but described it as "highly dangerous" and that it had been in Boothe's jacket.

Police cordon outside McDonald's and Costa Coffee in Watford High Street on February 7 2020

He added: "This was a middle of the afternoon in the centre of Watford with a large number of people around of whom any could have been caught up in this incident and many of whom would have been shocked by what they saw."

Shortly after the stabbing, police said an "argument" had taken place in the high street in the lead up to the attack and Judge Simon said having watched the CCTV, he had taken the view Boothe's actions were in "excessive self-defence" - but he said Boothe "shouldn't have had the knife in the first place".

Police cordon in Queens Road, Watford, where the victim got to before going into the Costcutter for first aid. Credit: JamPond Photography

The court heard Boothe had three previous convictions, including possession of a meat cleaver when he was a youth, but St Albans Crown Court also heard Boothe had taken "responsibility" for causing the injury in February 2020 and he had been working at the time of the stabbing and had been accepted on an apprenticeship course.

After being found guilty by a jury on January 13 this year of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Judge Simon sentenced Boothe to four years and four months in prison.

No further sentence was imposed for a charge for possession of cannabis.

O'Dean Boothe. Credit: Hertfordshire Constabulary

Detective Constable Jon Holmes, who investigated the assault, said: "It is no exaggeration when I say that the victim is lucky to be alive today, and we could have easily been investigating a murder.

"This was a very serious incident and Boothe gave absolutely no thought to the potential consequences of using a knife to viciously stab the victim in the chest.

"It has taken a long time to get to this point due to the coronavirus pandemic putting a huge strain on the court system, but I am pleased for the victim, his family and the wider public that we have finally achieved a conviction in this case.

"We will always do everything we can to reduce violent crime in Hertfordshire and this case is a perfect example of what would-be offenders could expect to face once arrested and charged."

A second man charged in connection with the stabbing in Watford High Street - Adrian McLeod, 20, of Hemel Hempstead, was acquitted.