A vicious thug 'paused for breath' four times during an horrific 13-minute attack on an elderly man in a Birmingham street - and only stopped stabbing him when the blade broke.
Razvan Mut, 35, stabbed, kicked, punched and stamped on Stephen Watts during a sustained attack and hit him with a metal chair leg more than 60 times.
Mr Watts, who was in his 60s, suffered horrendous injuries and was effectively dead at the scene in Whitehall Road, Handsworth, after going into cardiac arrest, having to have his heart massaged back to a start by paramedics on the road.
Attack Details
Birmingham Crown Court heard this week Mut had expended so much energy during the attack he had paused to stop four times to catch his breath. He then continued the brutal beating each time, and only stopped when an ambulance arrived at the scene.
Mut was cleared of attempted murder by a jury but pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced to 12 years with an extended four-year licence on Wednesday at Birmingham Crown Court.
The Romanian now faces the prospect of deportation when he is released after serving two thirds - eight years - of his sentence.
Background of the Incident
Mr Watts only met Mut by chance on April 11, 2024 when Mut offered him to stay in his HMO in return for £20. They returned to the address in Whitehall Road, Handsworth, and Mut took crack cocaine before leaving to withdraw money to fund more drugs.
He came back, continued taking drugs and drinking alcohol and an argument took place. Mr Watts ran outside, armed himself with a metal chair leg and Mut came out bare-chested. Mr Watts struck Mut with the chair leg and he retaliated by kicking out before he took out a knife and stabbed Mr Watts three times, only stopping because the blade broke.
Mr Watts tried to seek refuge in the HMO but Mut ran at him and after a struggle forced the victim, then aged 65, to the floor.
Judge Farrer said: 'Having put him to the ground you pulled the metal chair leg from his grasp and launched a sustained attack against him with that weapon. You aimed blows at his head and body. At one stage he told you, you cracked his skull.'
The victim got up and tried to back away but Mut pursued, whacked him to the ribs with the chair leg, knocking Mr Watts back against a van and then to the floor.
Judge Farrer continued: 'You then launched a prolonged and brutal attack upon him involving you striking him repeatedly with the chair leg, with kicks, stamps and punches. CCTV shows many blows with the chair leg delivered with force. His injuries demonstrate many were to his head.'
