James Bascoe-Smith was 17 when he was attacked last year, leaving him using a wheelchair and struggling to communicate. James was surrounded by family and friends at the Old Bailey as his two attackers were convicted of conspiracy to murder. Leon Rashid, 20, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 14 years and Taiquane Lewis, 19, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 13 years. Rashid had also been found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon. The judge said it was a “carefully planned attack”. “You chose a completely innocent teenager, James who had nothing to do with the 410 (gang) and was just testing out a bike to make sure it was safe for his mom to use. “If it wasn’t for the medical intervention, this would be a trial for murder. “He’s a shadow of his old self and he’ll never be able to live a normal life again.” A third defendant, Stephanie Paez-Lopez, 20, was cleared of assisting an attacker by helping to get rid of a Range Rover used in the attack. Image: James Bascoe-Smith The video of the victim called his mother as he essentially died James fell from his bike, which he was testing for his mother, and was stabbed by masked men in Brixton, south London, on February 23 last year. He called her with a video from his mobile phone as he lay on the ground and essentially died on the road near his home before being rescued in hospital. he spent 174 days in hospital before being allowed to return home, where he continues to work on his recovery – doing 100 sit-ups in his wheelchair. “Since the attack, my life has changed” In a pre-recorded video played during the hearing, James asked why the defendants targeted him and if they now “feel bad.” “When these people stabbed me I remember crying for my mum and begging them to stop,” she said. “I don’t remember much and I couldn’t communicate for six months after the attack. “Since the attack, my life has changed. “They stopped me from driving, going on my first holiday with my friends to celebrate my 18th birthday, coaching gymnastics, working and becoming a music producer while studying this at college.” He described moving away from Brixton, leaving behind friends, neighbors and “everyone I knew”. She added: “I now need a full-time carer, they are complete strangers to me who come to provide my personal care, feed and clothe me. “I can’t get out of bed by myself, I can’t even brush my teeth and I need a lot of medication to help me recover. “I’m stuck in a non-electric wheelchair, I rely on everyone to move me around, I have no independence. “Now I have a brain injury because my heart stopped for almost an hour, I don’t think I will ever be able to work or study again. “I just want to know why I was attacked” “I was very active before the attack, I was very involved in my community and helping my family, I would pick up my young cousins from school to help them with their work and I would coach them in gymnastics. “I didn’t deserve this, I had no problem with anyone, I don’t know why they attacked me, I just want to know why they attacked me and if they feel bad about what they’ve done.” He said: “I’m grateful that the doctors saved my life but living like this is hard, I miss my friends, I miss my old life, every day I wake up knowing that I’ll be like this forever.” Speaking outside the Old Bailey, James’ aunt Rachel Duncan said: “James was lucky to survive, however he has been left with serious life-changing injuries.” He added: “This should not have happened and I urge people who carry knives to stop. Please stop. “The trauma caused to my nephew and my family means we now live with the impact of knife violence forever.”
