A JEALOUS Popley teenager who showed no remorse after stabbing his friend in the face in a “vicious and cowardly” attack can be pictured for the first time after reporting restrictions were lifted. 

Connor Daniel Ezard was jailed for five years at Winchester Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of attacking a teenager with “one of the largest and most frightening knives” Judge Susan Evans QC had seen.

This newspaper applied to the court to overturn an order which would have given repeat offender Ezard anonymity until the age of 18. 

Ezard attacked his victim in broad daylight at 2.30pm in an alleyway close to Sark Way on Tuesday, January 12. 

The court heard how Ezard used a Rambo-style knife to slash his victim’s face before fleeing afterwards, hiding the knife under the sofa. 

He was found guilty of wounding with intent earlier this month, by a majority jury verdict of 10 to 1.

Sentencing the 16-year-old on Friday, Judge Evans said he “represent[s] a significant risk of committing further offences and causing serious harm”, adding that the offence was “plainly so serious that only custody can be justified”.

She continued: “It was a short incident but it didn’t take you long to do what you wanted to do. Certainly, you weren’t remorseful afterwards, you washed the knife and hid it under the sofa.

“He had to undergo emergency surgery. It was a vicious and cowardly attack by you. His mental and physical health has deteriorated. He has become reluctant to leave his home.

“He has been attacked again and has to live with that scar.”

The court was previously told that Ezard and the victim used to be friends, but that they had stopped hanging out.

Of the 16-year-old’s attack on him, the victim told the trial: “The first time he threw it at me or threw his arm at me, I literally moved to the side and moved his arm up. The second time he has come at me I put my leg out and kicked in the chest.

“I put my leg down and he just came at me again.”

On the third attempt the victim said that the teenager “plummeted his arm at my face”.

The victim continued: “To be honest [I have] no idea, I don’t know what the issue is about, I think it is just jealousy.”

He also said in his interview that he thought Ezard was “trying to show who is the big boss”.

Nicola Talbot-Hadley, defending, said that the teen had come from a “violent background” which led to a number of previous convictions for violent offences and “significantly aggravated” this offence.

Highlighting the progress he has made since being remanded in custody pending the outcome of the trial, she said: “He has set himself up as a peer mentor, is taking responsibility for matters on his wing, he has taken on a new job and is making honest money.

“He is trying to take on all those things that he has not been able to do in his life.”

Judge Evans QC declared: “When he is in custody, Connor does really well. The trouble is when he is out.”

Ms Talbot-Headley continued: “Everything that he said suggests that he is looking forward to getting out, getting to university or a construction course, and furthering himself as an honest member of the community.

“It is hard for those in authority looking at his record to believe that. He knows he has a significant number of years in a custodial setting.

“One can’t decry from the scar on the complainant’s face. But it is a scar, and not the loss of a limb perhaps.”

Ezard, of Sark Way, Popley, was given a five year prison sentence. Judge Evans QC added that the teenager will likely serve three quarters of that sentence before being released on licence for the remainder, as well as a further two years.

Sending him to the cells at the court, she said: “I hope that you will continue to work whilst you are in custody.

“There is a future for you, and you can make something of your life and put this behind you.”