Man sentenced to 11 years in prison over unprovoked stabbing spree

Daniel Clavell failed to appear in the Victorian County Court today where he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for random attacks, including on four strangers on a busy shopping street in Melbourne’s northwest in 2023.

Judge Sandra Davis described his behavior as extremely serious, noting that the victims were left traumatised, some with lifelong scars from the random attacks.

Clavell pleaded guilty to charges of affray, intentionally causing injury and uttering threats to kill, and had waived his right to be present at his previous court proceedings.

Despite his admissions, Judge Davis said he appeared to show little to no remorse for his actions.

Clavell was on bail when he committed the first offense in what was described as a six-week period of offending involving 13 victims.

He was walking at Moonee Ponds train station on June 17, 2023 when he punched a stranger in the face, shocking him backwards. The victim fled to a nearby home before Clavell also left the scene.

On June 28 the following week, Clavell was walking in Brunswick around 10 a.m. when he punched another man twice, leaving the victim with a broken nose.

On June 29, Clavell crossed paths with a man and a woman on a ramp at Broadmeadows train station, where he punched the woman twice in the face, before later pulling out a knife, causing the pair to retreat.

He also stabbed a nearby woman after putting his hand around her throat.

Clavell was arrested later that day and released with intent to serve a summons.

Two further incidents involving two attacks on strangers in Dallas and Coburg also occurred between July 26 and 29.

Clavell was stabbed on August 2 after he was caught shoplifting by the owner of Amazing Bargains on Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds at around 12.50pm.

After being confronted, he pulled out a sharp object and stabbed the owner in the left side of her neck, knocking her to the ground.

Clavell threatened a bystander who tried to photograph him as he fled, saying “I will kill you”.

He then stabbed another man in a nearby shop before attacking two others on the way to the train station, about 200 meters from the first attack.

The court was told Clavell had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of substance abuse related to steroids.

Judge Davis acknowledged Clavell’s difficult upbringing, which included domestic violence and the loss of his father, who had been heavily involved in criminal activity during his youth.

His father Rodney Clavell killed himself in an Adelaide brothel in 2014 during a 12-hour standoff with police.

Judge Davis said today that the victims had suffered emotional, physical, financial and social consequences as a result of the crime.

Clavell will be eligible for parole in six years and has already served his sentence for more than two years.

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