Gainsborough: Man who tried to kill stepbrother by stabbing him eight times fails to win appeal

Remorseless Darren William Bryant, 32, told police ‘I hope he’s dead or I’ll finish him off when I get out of prison’, after his arrest for the bloody attack on David Jupp.

Bryant, of Elsham Walk, Gainsborough, was caged for 16 years at Lincoln Crown Court in June 2013 after he admitted attempted murder.

Judge Michael Heath found Bryant to be a ‘dangerous offender’ and ordered that he serve five years on extended licence in the community after his release.

Today three senior judges at London’s Appeal Court rejected a sentence challenge by the would-be killer, saying Judge Heath was ‘entitled’ to hand him such a stiff punishment.

Mr Justice Knowles said Bryant became enraged over an apparent tug-of-war with his step-brother over Mr Jupp’s estranged wife, before launching the vicious attack at her home in December, 2012.

He slashed Mr Jupp’s throat and repeatedly stabbed him, then plunged the 10cm sheath knife into his back and chest once the victim’s wife had walked into the room.

Mr Jupp suffered a punctured lung and needed emergency surgery before spending time in intensive care in a medically-induced coma with life-threatening injuries.

Applying to appeal, Bryant today argued that Judge Heath went too far and handed him a sentence that was excessive.

But Mr Justice Knowles, sitting with Lord Justice Pitchford and Judge Clement Goldstone QC, said the sentence could not be criticised.

“The judge said Bryant all but murdered the victim. The pre-sentence report and the psychiatric report indicated that he was dangerous man.

“After his arrest he said: ‘I hope that he [Mr Jupp] is dead or I will finish him off when I get out of prison,” he observed.

The appeal judge concluded: “The application for permission to appeal is refused.”