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Man jailed after stabbing complete stranger in the back in unprovoked attack in street

Tony Coombs
Tony Combs was jailed for 13 years for stabbing a complete stranger in an unprovoked attack. (Greater Manchester Police)

A man who stabbed a complete stranger in an unprovoked attack in the street has been jailed for 13 years.

Tony Combs, 39, of no fixed abode, pushed the man into an alleyway and demanded that he hand over his possessions in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, in June 2020.

When the man, who was on his way home from visiting a friend, tried to get away Combs stabbed him in the back and then kicked and punched him repeatedly in the head as he lay on the ground.

General view of Manchester Crown Court ,Minshull Street, in Manchester city centre.   (Photo by Dave Thompson/PA Images via Getty Images)
Combs was jailed for 13 years at Manchester Crown Court Minshull Street. (Getty)

The man was taken to hospital where he had emergency surgery to remove the knife from his back.

Combs admitted offences of wounding and possession of a bladed article at a previous hearing and last week was jailed for 13 years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

He reportedly told police he "did not mean to do it" and thought the victim was someone else.

Read more: Grandfather jailed for life after stabbing daughter's ex-partner to death in 'frenzied attack'

Detective Constable Rick McIvor, from Greater Manchester Police's Tameside Operation Challenger Team said: "Firstly, I want to commend the bravery of the victim of this horrific incident as his full support throughout this investigation has ensured we have been able to secure a lengthy conviction.

"This was a completely senseless and violent attack on an innocent member of the public who had simply been visiting a friend and was on his way home."

He added: "I am pleased that Combs has received a custodial sentence today, as he very much deserves to be jailed for this attack, which has left the victim with lasting mental and physical trauma.

"I hope today provides at least a small sense of justice and allows his victim to continue to move on with his life knowing this dangerous man has been removed from our streets."

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