A late night drinker who nearly killed a pub custo

A late night drinker who nearly killed a pub customer by
stabbing him when he did not include his mate in a round was
jailed for six years on Thursday.

At Snaresbrook Crown Court a jury had heard how Tony Argent,
24, thrust the weapon deep into Philip Steel’s stomach shortly after
Argent’s friend – a George Michael look-alike – narrowly missed
glassing him.

Judge Monro Davies, QC, told Argent: ‘You have been convicted of
a callous and deliberate stabbing that could have been fatal.

Fortunately it was not.

‘
The judge said that luckily Mr Steels – who worked as a barman –
had fully recovered from the ‘brutal’ attack.

Jobless Argent, of Pond Road, Stratford, had denied wounding
barman Mr Steels, 25, of Leytonstone, with intent to cause him grievous
bodily harm.

He had previous convictions for violence, it was revealed.

The jury were told how during the early hours of October 7, 1990,
Mr Steels was drinking in the Maryland Grill in Stratford, when he
joined Argent, who he had met the previous week, and some other
people.

Prosecutor Mr Andrew Evans said that another man Mr Steels
recognised ‘bore some resemblance to George Michael’ and was known
only as ‘Shepherd.

‘
Counsel explained that the group were talking amongst themselves
for some time until about 5.

15 am when Argent asked Mr Steels to buy a
round.

‘He didn’t have very much money on him and was only able to buy
three drinks.

‘He didn’t buy a drink for the George Michael look-alike,’
continued Mr Evans.

The court heard that Shepherd called Mr Steels a ‘tight northern
bastard’ and broke a glass which he thrust towards his face.

But he was able to dodge the blow and Shepherd was taken outside
by some of his friends and the bar manager.

‘Suddenly without warning Argent produced a knife and stabbed him
in the stomach,’ said Mr Evans.

Mr Steels was taken to Newham General Hospital with a nine inch
wound that penetrated his liver and he needed life saving emergency
surgery.

While recovering there during the next month police officers
attended his bedside and were able to compile a photofit – released to
local press at the time – of his attacker.

Argent was arrested in January last year and denied he had ever
been to the Maryland Grill and claimed he was not responsible for the
stabbing.

He also denied that he knew a George Michael look-alike.

During the trial Argent declined to give evidence.

ENDS