Man stabbed friend 20 times over a £20 debt

A man who stabbed his friend stabbed 20 times over a £20 debt has been jailed.

Qusai Abdalla's victim was stabbed in the head, chest and arm during the attack at Tag Croft in the Ingol area of Preston, in the early hours of 29 September, Lancashire Police said.

Abdalla, 26, of Tag Croft, had earlier pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and was jailed for 12 years and 4 months at Preston Crown Court.

The victim, a man in his 40s, told the court that the "betrayal has cut even deeper than the physical wounds" because he thought Abdalla was his friend.

CCTV inquiries found the victim had been assaulted inside a property in Tag Croft, before stumbling to a petrol station on Tag Lane, where he collapsed.

He was given first aid by members of the public until an ambulance arrived, police said.

Detectives found blood inside the property, "though there had been an attempt to clean it up".

Abdalla, who also used the name Omar, wa.s traced to a property in New Rough Hey, Preston, where he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Traces of the victim's blood were found on Abdalla's trainers.

Although he made no comment in police interview, he did film the aftermath of the attack and sent the video to an associate.

He later told the same associate that he stabbed the victim 20 times due to an unpaid debt.

In an impact statement to the court, the victim said: "Since the attack, I have experienced ongoing trauma. I suffer from frequent flashbacks and anxiety attacks, and at times I feel disoriented and unsure of where I am.

"I struggle with sleep and find it difficult to control my thoughts when I feel overwhelmed."

He continued: "What makes this even harder is that I feel sorry for Omar, because I thought he was my friend.

"That betrayal has cut even deeper than the physical wounds.

"For the sake of a bit of money, he has damaged me mentally and physically in a way that may never heal."

Det Con Emily Armitage said: "This was a cowardly attack which could have easily resulted in a man losing his life... all over a £20 debt.

"I welcome the significant sentence handed down to Abdalla which reflects the seriousness of his offending and sends a clear message that Lancashire Police and the courts will not tolerate such abhorrent offending."

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