A BARRISTER claimed a defendant showed “an extreme lack of maturity” when he helped carry out a stabbing in Colchester city centre.

Rushi Jadeja, 22, was jailed for six years and nine months for his part in a knife attack which left a 16-year-old in a serious condition in hospital.

Dan Taylor, mitigating, told the court Jadeja was bullied as a child and lost his father at 16, contributing to a lack of direction in his life.

He said: “The point we make is that a person’s age does not determine the individual’s maturity.

“There is an extreme lack of maturity on the part of Jadeja – he is someone who is easily led.

“One can hope he can mature in custody prior to his release.”

He continued: “Jadeja had a difficult childhood – he was bullied as a result of his weight and ethnicity.

“He lost his father when he was 16 and that loss is something he has very much struggled to come to terms with.”

Mr Taylor said Jadeja’s family were forced to move to Colchester from east London because they were the target of gangs.

He added: “Jadeja is someone who has suffered from childhood trauma and that is something that impacts on his culpability.”

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