Random knife attack by teen ‘has ruined my football dream’

Montel Brown is in constant pain after being stabbed in the stomach
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A promising young footballer's career was wrecked and he was left fighting for his life when he was stabbed at random by a 14-year-old boy, a court heard.

Aldershot Town FC striker Montel Brown, 18, was returning home from training when the knife-wielding attacker approached him and asked where he was from.

When Montel replied "Chingford", the 14-year-old - who was "hellbent" on violence - stabbed him in the stomach and then fled the scene, the Old Bailey heard.

Montel, who was working towards signing a professional contract and had been scouted by Spurs and West Ham, spent a month in a coma and narrowly avoided losing his life after the stabbing.

He has been left with an "ugly" teardrop-shaped scar where his six-pack used to be, and the teenager now struggles to walk for five minutes at a time as he contemplates years of recovery.

His parents, Dr Carlton Brown and his wife Marvelly, came face-to-face with the teenage attacker on Friday and told the Old Bailey it was "like a horror movie" when they saw their gravely injured son in hospital.

"We asked why would someone want to cause this carnage to a close and law-abiding family", said Dr Brown.

Mrs Brown added that her son is now "petrified" to leave the house, he is on a cocktail of daily medication, and suffers from constant pain.

"It is heartbreaking watching him listening to his friends who have all just turned 18 and are going out, having fun, while Montel is at home and is never going to get his time back", she said.

"The daily news of stabbings in London is inexcusable. Those responsible need to understand how their actions affect the lives of innocent people and their families."

In a statement to the court, Montel revealed that one of his teammates in the Aldershot under 23s, who was with him at the time of the stabbing, has just signed his first professional contract.

He said: "A 14-year-old stranger has ruined my life, my hopes and my dreams. I should also have been signing a contract but he has taken that away from me.

"Instead, he has left me in so much pain, something I will have to deal with for the rest of my life."

Montel said he has wanted to become a professional footballer since the age of six, and his father paid for a personal fitness coach to help him achieve his dream.

"This has affected my football career, something I have been working towards for the past 12 years", he said.

"I'm totally devastated. I used to be able to run up and down a football pitch for 90 minutes. Now I find it hard to walk for five minutes without stopping to take a break."

He added: "My six pack has gone, I am left with a large ugly wound."

The court heard Montel and his friend arrived at Woodford tube station just before 5.30pm on March 15 when they were approached by the 14-year-old and four friends.

Prosecutor Alistair Richardson said the boy asked Montel where he was from, and then pulled out a knife and stabbed him "out of nowhere" when the reply was "Chingford".

Montel collapsed at the scene and was rushed to hospital, where he needed to have part of his bowel removed as doctors battled to save his life.

The court heard the teenage attacker, who cannot be identified because of his age, told a youth worker after the attack that he had bought a lock knife from a market after being the victim of an attempted robbery by boys from Chingford.

"He was hellbent on revenge on the 'Chingford Boys'," said the report, adding that the teenager changed out of his school uniform and armed himself with the knife that day intending to carry out an attack.

The court also heard that the teen has a history of violence, including orchestrating an attack on a fellow pupil at school that he filmed and posted on social media, just three days before the stabbing of Montel.

The boy was suspended from school and ultimately kicked out, but has continued to be violent while in custody for the attack on Montel.

Judge Michael Topolski QC sentenced the boy on Friday to four-and-a-half years in youth detention, and an extra four years on licence after his release.

The judge added that the sentence he passed would not "repair the physical and emotional damage caused to Montel and his family".

The teenager, from Woodford Green, pleaded guilty to one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

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