Man found guilty of stabbing two people in Quorn
A man who stabbed two people through a car window in Quorn before fleeing the scene has been convicted following a trial.
Cohen Barley was found guilty today (Tuesday 27 October) of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a knife blade / sharp pointed article following a trial at Leicester Crown Court this week.
He will be sentenced on 17 December.
The 24-year-old of Hawthorn Road, Mountsorrel, attacked two men, also aged 24, while they were sitting in a parked car in Station Road on the evening of 23 April this year.
Barley had approached the car and, after taking out a knife, stabbed the two men through the open window.
The two men were able to get out of the car and run down the road.
Police were called to the scene by members of the public who had witnessed the incident shortly after 6.15pm. Officers were immediately sent to the scene, but Barley had already fled in a nearby vehicle.
One of the victims suffered a serious stab wound to his hand and an injury to his stomach. The second man, who also left the scene before police arrived, sustained a puncture wound to the side of his body. Both required treatment in hospital but have since been discharged.
There was also a third person in the car who escaped without any injury.
Both victims were able to tell police the name of the person they believed had attacked them. Barley was identified as a suspect, but after fleeing the scene he evaded police for four days - sleeping in hotels under different people’s names.
Following a number of enquiries carried out by detectives, police found him at an address in Quorn, where he was arrested.
DC Amy Aplin, the officer in the case, said: “This was an unprovoked attack in broad daylight on a busy street with lots of people around.
“I am in no doubt that when Barley approached the car, he intended to cause serious injury to the men inside.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who quickly came to the aid of the victim at the scene and assisted before paramedics arrived.
“After fleeing the scene, he took deliberate steps to evade being caught, moving between addresses and staying in hotels under different names. However, through persistent enquiries and targeted investigative work, officers were able to trace him and bring him into custody.
“Thanks to the strength of the evidence and the accounts provided by the victims and witnesses, Barley has now been found guilty and is facing the consequences of this violent attack.
"This incident highlights the very real dangers of carrying and using a knife. Barley’s actions that night left two people injured, one seriously, and had they not managed to get away, it is possible one, or both, of them could have been killed.
“We remain committed to tackling knife crime and ensuring those responsible for serious violence are brought before the courts.”
For information about and support relating to knife crime, visit: https://livesafe.org.uk/
Leicestershire Police News - Published: 14:00 27/10/2026
