Video: Man who slashed with knife at Leicester cyclist jailed

A man has been jailed for four years at Leicester Crown Court for attempted grievous bodily harm with intent after what police described as "an unprovoked attack" in which he wielded a knife and slashing at a cyclist.

Cecil Samba, 22, pleaded guilty to the offence and to a separate charge of possessing a bladed article for which he received a six-month prison sentence that will run concurrently.

Samba, from Lewisham in south-east London, had reportedly been visiting his girlfriend in the East Midlands city.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing in June to attempted wounding with intent and threatening a person with a blade/pointed article in a public place.

The incident, caught on CCTV, happened at around 3.30pm on 22 March in Braunstone Gate, Leicester.

He was filmed lashing out at the cyclist with a knife, with the victim – who left the scene before back-up summoned by a PCSO who witnessed the incident arrived – throwing his bike at him in self-defence.

Investigating officer PC Suhaib Khalid of Leicestershire Police said: “This is yet another example of the damage that can be done when a decision is made to carry a knife.

“Samba is a young man who now faces many years in prison because of his actions that day.”

He continued: “Samba carried out an unprovoked attack on a man in a busy city street, and despite extensive enquiries to locate the victim, he remains unidentified.

“I hope that today’s outcome serves as a warning to anyone intent on carrying a knife and using it against another person that we will carry out a full and thorough investigation and bring those responsible to justice,” he added.