A Holloway teenager who almost cost a man his leg in a stabbing has been sentenced to two years’ detention.

Islington Gazette: A CCTV still of the knife attack outside Pentonville Road's McDonald's on February 15. Picture: Met PoliceA CCTV still of the knife attack outside Pentonville Road's McDonald's on February 15. Picture: Met Police (Image: Archant)

The victim, 27, was stabbed outside McDonald’s in Pentonville Road, King’s Cross, after encountering the defendant, 17, and becoming involved in an argument in the early hours of February 15.

The teen pulled out a large combat knife and stabbed him in the groin. The wound severed his leg artery and he had to be rushed to hospital to save his life. Since then, he has undergone five operations and sustained “life changing” injuries.

Det Cons Steffan Evans said: “This was a shocking crime of violence, which has had a devastating effect on the victim. We could find no evidence of any connection between the defendant and victim and the motive appears to have been just a trivial argument.

“The defendant had armed himself with a vicious combat knife and its subsequent use could have been deadly. It was only the rapid intervention of paramedics that stopped this being a murder investigation.”

At Blackfriars Crown Court, the youth pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. He was sentenced on Friday.