Man told to expect long jail term for stabbing cabbie in Manchester

A man who inflicted multiple stab wounds on a cabbie in Manchester has been told to expect a long jail sentence.  

32 year old Christopher Smethurst, of no fixed abode, was traced and arrested in Crewe 10 days after the attack. 

Smethurst had been picked up outside a takeaway in Longsight, the driver then stopped the vehicle in the notorious Moss Side area a little while later. The cabbie was then repeatedly stabbed by his attacker who was in the back seat shouting "die die die" as he was attacking the cabbie.

The taxi driver, who is in his 40s, suffered mutiple stab wounds to the face, chest, arms and hands as well as his eyelids.

Smethurst pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Minshull Street Crown Court, he denied attempted murder. 

He also pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, whilst the offence of possessing a bladed article is to lay on file.

Sentencing was adjourned until August with Smethurst being told to expect a ‘very significant custodial sentence’ by Judge John Potter.