A teenager took another boy, 17, ‘hostage’, then stabbed a man who tried to intervene, leaving him on life support.
The ordeal happened in Harlow, Essex, back in January 2025 when Lewie Wilson, from Epping, near the Essex-London broder, and Riley Dedman, were 16 years old.
The pair saw two teenage boys. Wilson attacked one of them, who fled, before he and another teenager, David Dutton – then 17, now 18 – marched off the other. Wilson, Dutton and the kidnap victim, who was also 17, was bundled into a car.
When the car stopped later that day a man in his 30s stepped in to try and help the victim.
Wilson then unleashed a knife attack and stabbed the man in the arm, torso, chest and abdomen leaving him with life-threatening injures, forcing paramedics to save him at the scene. Wilson and Dutton legged it.
‘Serious crime’
Detective Alana McCreath said: “These serious and violent crimes resulted in a man fighting for his life. It is thanks to the quick and vital work of our ambulance colleagues and hospital staff at PAH and Addenbrokes that this was not a murder trial.
“The mental effect on the teenage victim – being kidnapped and witnessing a stabbing – and his family was also significant. These three spent days after the assault actively hiding from police, and now they have had to face justice in our courts.
“I’d also like to thank the victims, witnesses and emergency responders for attending court or providing accounts for our case. These were vital in securing charges and ensuring this case went to trial.”
Their sentences
All three were eventually arrested and charged but could not be named at the time due to their age. Wilson, now 18, was charged with battery, kidnap, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
He initially denied this was a kidnapping despite referring to the teenager as a ‘hostage’ while in the car. He later pleaded guilty to the kidnap and battery charges at trial.
Dedman, now 18 but 16 at the time, of Fullers Mead in Harlow, and David Dutton, now 18 but 17 at the time, of Wellington Road in North Weald, were both charged with kidnap.
After a month-long trial at Chelmsford Crown Court (June 22 to July 22) Dutton and Dedman were found guilty of kidnap. Wilson was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place.
At their sentencing on September 11 Dutton was sentenced to a total of eight months in prison which was suspended for 18 months and must complete 70 hours of unpaid work.
Dedham was given a seven-month community order and must also complete 70 hours of unpaid work.
Wilson received the longest sentence and was jailed for a total of four years.
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