BY VICTORIA RAIMES

Last updated 15:57, Tuesday, 26 August 2008

A COUSIN of Wigton stabbing victim Xenon Charters has joined the campaign to halt Britain’s rising tide of knife crime.

Scene: King Street in Wigton where Xenon Charters was stabbed in an alley two weeks ago. A man, 33, and a 15-year-old boy have been charged with wounding

David Charters, 23, was with Xenon, 22, on a night out in the town last week when he was stabbed 14 times during an alleyway attack. He suffered wounds to his face, neck and body, including one which went through his stomach and liver.

David witnessed the attack, off King Street, as he walked home with Xenon at 10.30pm.

Incredibly none of the injuries was life-threatening, but Xenon, a wood machinist, has been left with extensive scarring.

“I’ve never seen a stabbing around here before,” said David, a steelworker from Wigton. “You see it in bigger cities like Leeds or Manchester but you never expect it here. Now it’s happened to a close friend of mine it has really hit home. Hopefully Xenon’s experience will show people how much damage a knife can do.”

David wants the courts to hand out tougher sentences. He added: “We need to raise awareness of this issue before knife crime gets out of control.”

Xenon’s parents, Kathleen, 48, and Jackie, 50, have also called for tougher action against knife crime offenders. Kathleen said: “Xenon was lighthearted and joking about the incident but the surgeon told him he had no idea how lucky he is. He could have been killed or lost an eye.

“We’re still in disbelief. You read about things like this but you never expect it to happen to you.

“The country need to get a grip on spiralling knife crime. The night Xenon was stabbed, two youngsters were killed with knives, one in London and one in Greater Manchester. We need tougher legislation.”

Jackie added: “We’ve all been in fisticuffs as youngsters, but to get a knife and stab somebody that many times – I don’t understand it. Society seems to have changed. There’s much more violence around.”

In Cumbria between March and June more than a quarter of people caught carrying a knife were cautioned rather than charged. But police stress that incidents in the area are relatively rare. During this period, only 29 people were found with a blade on them.

A police spokesman said two men from Carlisle have been arrested in connection with the incident. Both have been released on police bail. Witnesses or anybody with information can contact police on 0845 3370 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.