KNIFE crime in Reading has reared its ugly head once again after a torrid start to the year for the town.

Three stabbings have been reported in the past month with the outcomes very different for the victims of the incident.

On Halloween, Tilehurst man Reece Heffernan was fatally stabbed at his home on Romany Lane.

Four men have been charged with his murder and possession of a knife in a public place.

READ MORE: Everything we know so far about Halloween stabbing

A week later, a man was found with stab wounds in Whitley in the early hours of the morning on Sunday, November 7.

Following this, Leon Lowe, aged 33, of South Street, Reading was charged with one count of Grievous Bodily Harm with intent and one count of possession of an offensive weapon.

And on Wednesday, November 24, an 18-year-old woman was rushed to hospital after a reported stabbing on Wensley Road in Coley Park.

She has now been discharged from hospital and a 22-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent.

The latest stabbings after a year where knife crime has dominated local headlines.

READ MORE: What we know so far about Coley Park stabbing

In January, 13-year-old Olly Stephens was stabbed to death by two teenage boys at Bugs Bottom field in Emmer Green.

In September, the two boys were collectively sentenced to 25 years behind bars for Olly’s murder.

And just last week a Caversham man, O’Neal Joseph, 28, was jailed for the murder of Yannick Cupido after he fatally stabbed the 24-year-old on February 14.

Another trial is currently going on in Reading Crown Court in which four men have been charged with the murder of Raheem Hanif, who was fatally stabbed in Tilehurst on February 6.

In light of the wave of knife crime in Reading this year, the Chronicle is naming the people from Reading who have been caught carrying a knife in the past three months (which is as far as court files stretch back) in a bid to highlight the prevalence of the issue.

The Chronicle will continue to update this list when new convictions are added.

July

EDDIE BEAUMONT, 64, of Finch Road, Earley, convicted of possession of a kitchen knife in a public place, namely Whitley Road, on March 15, 2021. Committed to prison for 26 weeks due to the severity of the offence. Fined £500 and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge.

CLAIRE WHITE, 43, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, admitted possession of a knife in a public place, namely a bread knife in Reading, on November 11, 2020. Community order made. Requirement to take part in up to 25 rehabilitation activity days. Must pay £180 in court fees.

READ MORE: Murdered teens parents speak out on knife crime

August

RYAN MIKOSZ, 26, of Russell Street, Reading, admitted possession of a knife, namely an auto-lock locking knife, on Oxford Road, Reading, on February 10, 2021. Community order made. Requirement to take part in up to 15 rehabilitation activity days. Must pay £180 in court fees.

ROBERT SREBRZYNSKI, 35, of Oxford Road, Reading, admitted possession of a blade in a public place, namely a stanley knife, in Reading on March 16, 2021. Community order made. Requirement to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work. Must pay £95 victim surcharge.

SAFWAN EDWARDS, 20, of Coventry Road, Reading, admitted possession of a knife in a public place, namely a hunting knife, in Birmingham on November 1, 2020. Committed to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. Must pay £228 in court fees.

READ MORE: Stabbings led to almost 900 hospital admissions in Thames Valley

September

JADE FULLER, 27, of Richfield Avenue, Reading, admitted possession of a knife on Broad Street, Reading, on October 19, 2020. Community order made. Requirement to take part in up to 15 rehabilitation activity days. Must pay £180 in court fees.

SAMANTHA STURGESS, 19, of Ardler Road, Caversham, Reading, admitted possession of a knife in a public place, namely Friar Street, Reading, on February 20, 2020. Conditional discharge for 18 months. Must pay £107 in court fees.

READ MORE: Meet the man taking knives off Reading's streets

TYRON HARKNESS, 23, of Clever Road, Basingstoke, admitted possession of a knife in a public place, namely Church End Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, on April 20, 2021. Community order made. Requirement to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work. Must pay £180 in court fees.