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More on KentOnline
A terrified man, who was stabbed and beaten by two men, has now left the county in fear.
Terry Coyle thought he was going to die in the savage attack in Ditton, near Maidstone, which left him with part of his intestines hanging out.
Now one of his attackers, Craig Graham has been handed an 11-year jail sentence for the vicious assault in July 2017 in what a judge claimed was a “revenge” attack.
Another man, Anthony Allgood, who armed himself with a piece of wood or baseball bat, was also jailed for 30 months.
Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Coyle said he had no idea who his attackers were.
He had been asked for "coke" and he had jokingly said: “Which do you want, diet coke or cherry coke?”
The attack left him requiring 12 hours of surgery, including the removal of 10ins of intestine. He also has Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.
“My left leg has been numb ever since it happened,” he said. “It is like having a permanent dead leg.”
Immediately after being attacked Mr Coyle took refuge in Larkfield Fire Station where a man found him.
“He looked at me and just said ‘Jesus Christ’ because there was blood everywhere.”
Graham, 32, admitted wounding with intent and possessing a knife in public and causing criminal damage.
Allgood, 31, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and damaging the car.
Both men live in Howick Close, Aylesford.
Prosecutor Ben Irwin told, Maidstone Crown Court how on July 29, 2017, at 3am, Mr Coyle and Lauren Gregson had gone to an Esso Petrol Station in London Road, Ditton, to buy alcohol when Rachel Graham and husband Craig arrived, asking if he could get some cocaine.
When Mr Coyle declined, Graham claimed he was being “mugged off”, got into the faces of the couple and told the victim he would “do him”.
As Mr Coyle and Ms Gregson walked away they were followed along London Road by the Grahams and broken glass from a smashed wine bottle was thrown at Mr Coyle, who was also kicked.
Ms Gregson’s brother Jamie Humphries then arrived in a silver BMW before the group began scuffling, with Graham’s wife threatening to kill Ms Gregson.
The Grahams then got into a car and left “and things could have ended there”, the prosecutor added.
But Mr Graham and pal Allgood later arrived and on finding Mr Coyle alone attacked him as he walked towards his home.
Mr Irwin added: “He tried to run before he was hit over the back of the head with a wooden pole. He was unaware he had been stabbed in the abdomen while he was on the floor.
“Mr Coyle was screaming for help and pleading with the group, telling them they were going to kill him.
"He said that no matter how much he screamed, they would not stop.”
The pair ran back to the petrol station where they wrecked the BMW, causing £3,300 worth of damage.
Mr Coyle was taken to London’s King College Hospital and treated for the stab wound and received a blood transfusion.
He was eventually released on August 8. Mr Coyle said in his victim statement: “I no longer feel safe in Kent so I have left. My family and I were left in distress.
"I was struggling to sleep. I was lying on the floor thinking I was going to die.
"I was just in panic thinking about my daughter and not being able to see her again - and all over nothing.
"I am surprised I am still alive and I was shocked when I woke up in hospital. I now jump and panic at the slightest thing.”
Mother-of-two Rachel Graham, 37, also of Howick Close, admitted witness intimidation, two charges of battery and possessing cannabis and received a 16-week jail sentence.
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