Man Stabs Stranger After Stealing Booze from Tiptree Garage
A violent attack unfolded at a Shell garage in Tiptree on the afternoon of Tuesday 11 July 2023. John Garrett, 55, grabbed two bottles of alcohol from a shop shelf on Maypole Road before threatening staff and making off towards a nearby bus stop by Windmill Green.
Stabbing at Bus Stop Leaves Man Fighting for Life
At the bus stop, Garrett confronted two men and a woman. After a heated argument with one of the men, he stabbed him three times in the neck. The victim, in his 20s, was left in a life-threatening condition as paramedics rushed to the scene.
Six witnesses saw the brutal assault before Garrett fled back to his home on Walnut Tree Way.
Swift Police Action Leads to Arrest and Jail Sentence
Officers quickly swooped on Garrett’s house, arresting him shortly after the attack. Over a dozen officers gathered evidence to charge him with attempted murder and robbery.
Garrett pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday 18 March. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted the plea.
He was handed a hefty 13 years and six months behind bars on Thursday 6 June.
