Jail for man who tried to kill in ASDA

A man has been jailed for 11 years after he was convicted of trying to murder a fellow drinker by cutting his throat in a branch of ASDA.

The jury at Leeds Crown Court were shown the CCTV footage in the Mill Street West store in Dewsbury which captured the moment Wayne Walshaw attacked John Secker the prosecution claimed in revenge for an earlier incident.

Simon Waley prosecuting said a police officer witnessed the event in the early hours of March 11 and saw Walshaw grab Mr Secker from behind, force his head up and in a slashing movement cut him across the neck.

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“The officer described his behaviour as appearing to be controlled, calm and measured,” he said.

Mr Secker was given assistance at the scene to stem the bleeding while Walshaw asked “have I killed him?” and said it was in response to what had been done previously to his face.

Mr Secker was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and found to have six inch laceration across his throat which required surgery to close it but had not damaged the windpipe or major blood vessels. “You may think he was a lucky man.”

Walshaw had earlier been drinking cider with Mr Secker at his home in Mountain Crescent, Thornhill, and when they were joined by a third man he described them both as “having had a skinful.”

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Mr Secker said as Walshaw became increasingly drunk he became increasingly aggressive and told the jury at one point “we had a scuffle” although he could not remember what it was about.

“He put his hand on my neck, I retaliated and hit him in the face in order to get him off me.”

He said the three of them later decided to go to Asda for some lagers having finished their cider. Inside the store he said he went to the toilet and was waiting for the other two to come out.

Walshaw’s defence claimed because he was heavily intoxicated, had taken medication and because of the earlier assault on him could not have formed the necessary intention to kill or cause serious injury. The jury unanimously convicted Walshaw, 44, of attempted murder. Mohammed Nawaz representing him said his actions were spontaneous and something he regretted. Jailing Walshaw, Mr Justice Goss said he accepted there had been an assault by the complainant earlier during a heavy drinking session and in a “state of considerable intoxication you decided to produce the craft knife you carried in your pocket.” He had cut the throat of Mr Secker “intending on the jury’s verdict to kill him. Fortunately you didn’t succeed in your intention.”

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