Teenager caught cowering in bushes after stabbing neighbour 51 times

A teenager who stabbed his neighbour 51 times in a ‘brutal’ knife attack was found by police cowering in the bushes.

Incredibly, the victim survived but was left with multiple injuries, including a punctured lung and broken rib, after the attack in Maidstone, Kent last year.

Haiden Tomlin, 19, and his neighbour, who has not been named, both lived on the same flour of building in the centre of town.

Kent Police said officers were called at just before 3am on September 1 after Tomlin and the man became involved in an altercation, which escalated to a physical fight inside the flat of a third person.

Police received further reports to say a man leaving the building was covered in blood.

Officers carried out searches in the immediate area and Tomlin was found hiding in some bushes at around 4.50am and was arrested.

The moment was filmed on police bodycams and the footage has now been shared with the public.

Officers recovered a discarded lock knife and multi-tool outside the block of flats.

Tomlin was charged with attempted murder and pleaded not guilty at Maidstone Crown Court, arguing he had acted in self-defence.

The case then went to trial and he was convicted of an alternative charge of wounding with intent.

On Thursday he was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.

Det Const Nell Shortis, of Kent Police, said: ‘Tomlin argued his actions were in response to also being assaulted, however the sheer number of injuries he inflicted demonstrate a brutal and ferocious attack and one which the victim was fortunate to survive.

‘There can never be an excuse to carry weapons and any assault with a knife has the potential to end in tragedy.

‘If you decide to carry a blade or associate with individuals that do, you put yourself at risk of being seriously injured or worse.’

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