Cristinel Gogalea jailed for 25 years for attempted murder after knife attack at flat in Arnhem Road, Preston

A man who took part in a knife attack at a flat in Preston has been given a 30-year sentence.

Cristinel Gogalea attacked a man aged in his 40s at a property in Arnhem Road in July last year.

The victim was found covered in blood nearby, having sustained slash wounds to his head, back, chest, elbow and foot. He also suffered a puncture lung.

Lancashire Police officers were called around 12.15am on 15th July by a member of the public to say there was a man injured on the floor on New Hall Lane.

Two of our officers were first on the scene and found the victim covered from head to toe in blood, with them immediately seeing a five-inch slash wound to the top of his head.

He was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery.

The victim told officers that he had been asleep in bed when he heard some noise outside his first-floor flat.

He opened the door and a man entered the flat and assaulted him.

The victim managed to run out of his flat, fearing that he was going to be killed.

When officers searched the flat, they found a mobile phone on the floor in the kitchen area. The phone was examined and linked to Gogalea.

As detectives investigated the attack, they found CCTV footage which showed four people running from an alleyway opposite to Arnhem Road, with one of them carrying a machete-type weapon.

Officers arrested Gogalea a short time later after a car was stopped in Preston.

Gogalea, 22, formerly of Wilbraham Street, Preston, pleaded guilty at a hearing in January to attempted murder.

He returned to the dock at Preston Crown Court Sessions House today for sentence and was given a 30-year sentence, comprising 25 years imprisonment and a five-year extended licence period.

Gogalea’s mother Rebeca Anitescu, 47, and his stepfather Marian Anitescu, 53, both of Wilbraham Street, Preston, were also before the court.

They pleaded guilty to assisting an offender having helped Gogalea change his clothes after the attack and arranging for him to be driven from the area.

Rebeca Anitescu was jailed for 10 months and Marian Anitescu was jailed for 23 months.

Det Sgt Greg Bashall of Preston CID, said: “This was a ferocious attack with a knife which left the victim with serious injuries

“By his guilty plea, Gogalea has acknowledged that this was an attempt to kill the victim.

“The seriousness of the injuries goes to show what the horrific consequences of using a knife as a weapon can be.

“Lancashire Police take reports of knife crime extremely seriously and will thoroughly investigate such reports so to bring offenders to justice.”