Ex-boyfriend motivated by “jealousy and rage” sentenced to 15 years in prison after stabbing two people

A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend who stabbed two innocent men he didn't know has been jailed for 15 years.

Police said Christopher O'Brien of Kings Road, Birmingham, was motivated by “jealousy and rage” when he attacked the two men last year at a house where his ex-girlfriend lived.

O'Brien fled the scene but was arrested days later following a police chase.

He pleaded not guilty despite a video on his phone showing him entering the property on the night of the attack.

Having been found guilty, he was this week sentenced to 15 years in prison for one offense of grievous bodily harm and five years for the second offense of grievous bodily harm.

The sentences will run concurrently.

“It was only by chance that we were not dealing with a murder, the violence shown towards two complete strangers was extreme,” said Detective Sergeant Andrew Maguire of West Midlands Police.

Unprovoked attack

The court heard that on the night of October 8, 2023, O'Brien's ex-girlfriend was enjoying a night out with her sister and two male friends, who were related to each other.

It is believed O'Brien had gone to the house in Erdington where his ex-girlfriend lived and was watching her and the friends from the garden.

Motivated by jealousy, he entered the house and, in an unprovoked attack, began stabbing one of the men, who was unknown to him.

The second man tried to help his relative but O'Brien turned the knife on him, stabbing him as well.

The two men, then aged 22, were seriously injured.

Police chase

Police launched an investigation to find O'Brien, who fled the house after the stabbing.

After extensive investigations, they spotted him driving his car in the early hours of October 22, near the scene of the incident.

O'Brien refused to stop and, following a chase, was surrounded and arrested on Kings Road, Birmingham, where he was found drunk and driving without a license or insurance.

He refused to give his details to police and, during interviews with police, did not answer any questions.

The 39-year-old was charged and remanded in custody and, following a forensic examination of his phone, a video of him filming himself entering the house on the night of the attack was found.

Although he pleaded not guilty, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced this Thursday to a lengthy prison term.

“I tried to escape capture”

“O'Brien's motivation was jealousy and rage and he tried to cover his tracks,” added DS Maguire.

“He attempted to evade arrest, made no comment during his interview and subjected everyone involved to a lengthy trial with his not guilty plea.

“I would also like to thank the police teams who worked hard to bring O’Brien to justice, it was a real team effort.

“We hope that victims who continue to recover from their injuries will feel that justice has been served.”