Former Premier League prodigy jailed for brutal knife attack that left teenager paralysed

Per the Mirror, Darame has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of a knife. The 25-year-old played for Swansea's youth team while they were in the Premier League but was released in 2018. His defence team claimed that he "struggled to cope" after his release and in May of last year, Darame stabbed 19-year-old Ronnie Evans and stole his neck chain and bracelet. The attack was so vicious - Darame is said to have used a rambo knife - that two of Evans' nerves in his leg were severed, leaving him paralysed from the knee down.

The former footballer, who briefly played for German fourth-division side Teutonia FC after leaving Swansea, is said to have threatened Edwards and a friend before the attack, claiming that he would chase them and "kill them". The victim, Mr Edwards, is said to have survived only because the knife missed the major organs in his leg, but he cannot walk without a splint and has had to give up his job as an electrician, per his victim impact statement. Darame had previously been imprisoned for 28 months last year, after being found with heroin and cocaine worth over £1,000.

Judge Daniel Neill said, as he passed sentence: "You had hoped to become a professional footballer, it didn’t work out. Many dreams don’t work out, many ambitions. By the time that your professional football contract sponsorship came to an end, you had a partner and a newborn child you felt you were failing."

While Darame will now face up to his sentence, his victim will attempt to rebuild his life after the attack.