Bailey Atkinson, 21, was brutally attacked by a group of teenagers and left in a pool of his own blood with a Rambo knife lodged in his shoulder. He later died in the hospital, and his killers, Benjamin Wilkes and Patrick Brookes, both 18, were jailed for life. The attackers, described as ambushing their victim like “lions on prey,” chased Bailey down Walsall High Street in a horrifying attack captured on CCTV. Despite his desperate attempts to escape, Bailey was caught and brutally attacked with the knife, leaving him in a critical condition.
The killers were sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court, with various minimum terms of imprisonment ranging from 18 to 23 years. Bailey had tried to leave behind his gang lifestyle, having moved to Walsall from Coventry two years prior to the attack. CCTV footage showed Bailey walking with a female friend before being chased by two stolen cars. The attackers, driving a Seat Leon, caught up to him near Poundland, where the brutal assault took place. Bailey attempted to flee by running towards market stalls, but he was surrounded and left bleeding on the ground.
First responders found Bailey with stab wounds all over his body, including his back, arms, and legs. The murder weapon, a Rambo knife, was found underneath him, and he had sustained multiple injuries that were fatal. Despite efforts to save him through open-heart surgery at the scene, Bailey was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. The post-mortem revealed over 30 areas of cuts and stab wounds, including punctured lungs and a severed artery, showing the severity of the attack.
Following a trial where several teenagers were convicted for Bailey’s murder, some were acquitted while others were sentenced to life in prison with minimum terms. Bailey’s harrowing final moments were witnessed by Asda staff on their break who rushed to help him after the attackers fled. The brutality of the attack, described as “lions on prey,” shocked the community. Although some defendants denied their involvement, jurors found them guilty, leading to lengthy prison sentences. The tragic outcome of Bailey’s attempt to leave behind a dangerous lifestyle highlights the devastating consequences of gang violence and youth crime.
