A homicidal knifeman who tried to kill two strangers during a savage city centre attack told police “I’ve livened up Exeter a bit”.
Leon Telemacque attempted to murder a 24-year-old man and his 23-year-old girlfriend in Bampfylde Street. The couple had been waiting at a bus stop before the 31-year-old launched his brutal assault.
CCTV captured the moment he attacked them from behind with a 20cm blade, stabbing the man three times and the woman twice.
Audio captured the screams as he jabbed the knife at the couple then chased the man, who drew the attacker away from his girlfriend, onto Sidwell Street.
A group of students helped the victim and followed Telemacque as he ran away. The attacker was arrested a few minutes later near the Vue cinema by taser-carrying police.
Telemacque, from Birmingham, admitted two charges of attempted murder and has been jailed for life at Exeter Crown Court. The judge said he must serve a minimum of 17 years and 132 days before he can be considered for release.
Judge James Adkin said: “You had been standing in the vicinity for about an hour watching the victims and their friend [who boarded a coach]. With no provocation or indication you violently attacked them from behind.”
He said it was “highly likely” the male victim would have been killed had he not raised his hand to protect his throat from the knife and there was no doubt Telemacque intended to murder them both.
“You pose an imminent risk to members of the public of causing harm by stabbing them,” the judge told Telemacque.