Footballer Calum Davenport's attacker has jail term cut

Worrell Whitehurst admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent

A man who was jailed for six years for a knife attack on a Premier League footballer has had his jail term cut.

Worrell Whitehurst, of Finsley Walk, Derby, stabbed former West Ham defender Calum Davenport repeatedly in the legs in Bedford in August 2009.

The 27-year-old admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Whitehurst had his sentence cut to four-and-a-half years by Mr Justice Jack and Judge Martin Stephens QC in London.

The court heard Whitehurst attacked the player on 22 August last year after Mr Davenport insulted him during an argument with his sister Cara Davenport, Whitehurst's girlfriend.

Davenport was later tried in relation to an alleged attack on his then pregnant sister but was acquitted by a jury.

Whitehurst's barrister, Jerome Lynch QC, argued that the Luton Crown Court judge should not have rejected part of his account of the incident.

Mr Justice Jack said Whitehurst should have been sentenced on the basis that he had not planned to attack and had assaulted Davenport when subjected to "racist taunts".

He said: "We think that, taking account of all matters and making appropriate deduction for plea, the proper sentence in this case would be one of four-and-a-half years' imprisonment."