Man attacked at David Lloyd gym, requiring extensive surgery after a brutal face slashing by Elliot Ashton.
Ashton asked for a taxi. Then, he slashed the worker’s face. He ran outside, demanding a car. Ashton wanted to escape quickly. Police caught him near a Nando’s restaurant. He had a stab vest with him.
Rhys Friday dated Ashton’s sister. They broke up last August. Friday worked at David Lloyd, and Ashton was a member. Ashton approached him and asked Friday to call a taxi.
Ashton said his phone died. Friday noticed Ashton looked unwell and asked if he was okay. Ashton said he felt fine, then asked about the taxi’s arrival time. When Friday checked, Ashton attacked, slashing Friday’s face with a knife.
After the attack, Ashton left the gym. He approached drivers, asking for a ride and trying to open locked car doors. He demanded a woman give him her car. Police arrested Ashton near a shopping park. They found a stab vest and knife sheath, but the knife was missing.
Friday suffered a severe facial wound. He went to the hospital, needing many stitches and blood transfusions. His injury was life-threatening, and he posted a picture of it online. Surgery took six hours to fix the damage.
Friday lost a lot of weight. Eating was difficult due to the injury. He felt his life had changed forever, and the stabbing affected him physically and mentally. He now feels less confident and avoids socializing like he once did.
Sleeping is hard because of nightmares, and he thinks people see him differently. He doesn’t know why Ashton attacked him. There was no bad blood between them. Ashton has past convictions for knife possession.
Once, police found him with a knife, and another time, he had a hunting knife. He said he carried it for protection while running. Ashton’s lawyer said the attack was revenge for an attack on Ashton in 2020. He feared further attacks.
Ashton carried the stab vest for protection. The lawyer said Ashton planned to go camping. His family said he wanted to work in Australia, but the attack ruined his plans and impacted his mental well-being. His father and grandfather passed away.
Ashton’s lawyer said he wasn’t expecting to see Friday. Chance led to the attack, the lawyer said. Ashton admitted his crimes in court. The judge sentenced him to prison for six years and nine months. He must serve two-thirds before parole and will have three years of supervision after release.
The judge called Ashton a dangerous offender, noting his history of drug use and weapons. The judge stated Ashton’s cannabis use damaged his mental health and that he intentionally armed himself and attacked Friday. The judge stated the attack was savage. It was unnecessary and motivated by revenge.
The judge found that Friday’s life is forever changed and that Ashton posed a danger to the public.
