The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A man who carried out a stabbing during a 2017 Boxing day party in Spalding was spared jail after his case was delayed due to the case ‘being lost in the system’.
Jaroslav Bogdevic, 37, was arrested in December 2017 after the victim suffered a stab wound to his thigh and was hit over the head with a wine bottle.
Bogdevic, of Teagans Close, Spalding, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in November 2019 after he was charged in connection with the incident.
His case was provisionally listed for trial but failed to go ahead due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neil Sands, prosecuting, said the Crown Prosecution Service accepted his case had then become lost in the system.
The court heard Bogdevic eventually reappeared before Lincoln Crown Court earlier this year when he pleaded guilty to a charge of Section 20 unlawful wounding.
Mr Sands said the offence occurred after Bogdevic took exception to the behaviour of the male victim during Boxing Day festivities at an address in Spalding during 2017.
When he later spoke to the police the victim confirmed he did not previously know Bogdevic and said he could not remember the exact address where the assault took place.
Mr Sands said the victim described Bogdevic picking up a knife after he accused him of acting inappropriately towards another female guest.
“The victim said the defendant got a knife and came towards him as he was sat down,” Mr Sands explained.
The court heard Bogdevic then repeatedly punched the victim and also encouraged another man to join in the assault.
“At some stage during the assault the victim received a wound to his thigh. He was bleeding and used a Christmas hat to staunch the wound,” Mr Sands added.
When Bogdevic left the room the other man gave the victim a belt to help stop the bleeding from his thigh wound.
Police were called after the victim returned home. He was taken to hospital with a two cms stab wound to his thigh and two 6cms cuts to his head.
Bogdevic gave no explanation during his police interview but later accepted hitting the victim twice over the head with a wine bottle.
Blood from the victim was found on Bogdevic’s clothing and the wine bottle was recovered.
Bogdevic denied a charge of Section 18 wounding when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in November 2019.
He entered a guilty plea to the lesser offence of Section 20 unlawful wounding when he reappeared before Lincoln Crown Court earlier this year.
Anna Soubry, mitigating, acknowledged Bogdevic would be grateful to receive a suspended sentence.
Passing sentence Recorder Simon King said someone who uses a sharp or bladed weapon during an attack on another person should expect to lose their liberty.
But Recorder King added there were exceptional circumstances in this case which meant a jail sentence could be suspended.
“Offending of this kind always attracts a custodial sentence,” Recorder King explained.
“But this all happened six years ago, and for no fault of the defendant his case has been delayed.
“During that time, a part from one matter in Lithuania, he has stayed out of trouble between then and now.”
Bogdevic was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years and must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the community.
