Two jailed for stabbing Chinese takeaway owner

Two men have been jailed after the near-fatal stabbing of Chinese takeaway Jie Yu, after he tried to stop them stealing his car.
Jie Yu, owner of the Peking Garden takeaway. Picture: Phil WilkinsonJie Yu, owner of the Peking Garden takeaway. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Jie Yu, owner of the Peking Garden takeaway. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

Mr Yu, 38, suffered a neck wound after chasing down and confronting Gary Reid and James Hogg who stole his car from outside his Edinburgh restaurant in October.

After catching up to the pair on on his daughters bicycle Mr Yu was brutally attacked - suffering wounds to his neck, chest, abdomen, legs and wrist. The injury to his neck was described as “life-threatening” and left him with a permanent scar.

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Reid, whose older brother John was jailed in 2010 for the killing of Chinese takeaway driver Simon San in Edinburgh, admitted his behaviour was racially motivated.

Gary Reid's offence was racially motivated. Picture: Police ScotlandGary Reid's offence was racially motivated. Picture: Police Scotland
Gary Reid's offence was racially motivated. Picture: Police Scotland

Yesterday at the High Court in Aberdeen, Lord Burns sentenced Reid to seven years in a young offenders institute and Hogg to eight years and three months in prison.

And the judge said that such was their “capacity for violence” that they will both be kept under supervision after they have served their time behind bars to protect the public.

He said: “You have both pled guilty to the most vicious and unprovoked attacks on a man who was simply attempting to recover his own property which had been stolen from him.

“You went out with two knives and you did attempt to murder the complainer.

Jie Yu has been left with scars. Picture: Phil WilkinsonJie Yu has been left with scars. Picture: Phil Wilkinson
Jie Yu has been left with scars. Picture: Phil Wilkinson

“The whole episode is characterised by gratuitous violence on our streets which will not be tolerated.”

The High Court heard previously that Mr Yu had been working at his Peking Garden takeaway in the capital’s Pilton area on October 1, 2014, when the attack happened.

He was on his way to make a takeaway delivery - but left the car engine running as he ran back inside to pick up a bottle of juice he had forgotten.

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Reid and Hogg were in a kebab shop next door to the takeaway.

The court heard Reid, who is being held at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, had brought two knives with him and gave one to Hogg.

And the High Court in Aberdeen heard yesterday that it was Hogg, who was listed in court papers as being a prisoner in Edinburgh, who made the “spur of the moment” decision to steal the idling car.

When Mr Yu saw the vehicle being driven away he chased after it on his daughter’s bicycle.

But Reid and Hogg turned the tables on him after stopping the car.

Reid said: “What the **** are you going to do? You’re going to do **** all.”

Mr Yu was then repeatedly stabbed by both men before they fled the scene.

Reid was arrested and charged the next day, while Hogg was arrested the following week on the west coast.

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Mr Yu was treated at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and St John’s Hospital for ten days. He is still recovering at home, according to police.

Reid was previously jailed for 14 months for assault and robbery in 2013.

He will serve an extended sentence of two years upon his release from young offenders - meaning he will be subject to supervision requirements.

Hogg, who has previous convictions including a 42-month jail stint imposed in 2007, is to be released on licence for a period of three years.

Both custodial sentences were backdated to the date the men were first remanded in custody.

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