Man jailed for knife attack in department store

Adrian Shaw

A man has been jailed after he stabbed a fellow sales assistant at a Manchester department store.

Adrian Shaw (born 16/11/89) of West Green Rhodes, Middleton, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing.

Today, Friday 3 December 2010, he was sentenced to four years and eight months in jail at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court.

Shaw and the victim, who was 39 at the time, both worked for different retailers in the menswear department of House of Fraser on Deansgate. Their respective shop floor areas were next to each other.

On Wednesday 12 May 2010, a customer went to Shaw's department but he was not around, so the victim went to help.

The victim went to the stock room for look for something the customer wanted, where he came across Shaw, whose behaviour was erratic that day.

The pair had a disagreement in the stock room. Shaw was reeling off numbers of stock items and boasted to the victim that he was funny and clever. The victim felt as though he was being picked on so shouted at Shaw that he was doing him a favour by helping the customer.

The victim went back to his department and Shaw finished serving the customer.

A short time later he went up to the victim on the shop floor and confronted him about the earlier disagreement.

The victim said it didn't matter, as Shaw had apologised, but Shaw continued to try and argue.

The victim continued to ignore Shaw, who then jumped on the victim's back, put his arm around his neck and put him in a headlock.

He then stabbed him five times. One wound was to the back of the victim's head, three were to the back of his neck and the fifth was on the side of his neck.

Members of staff went to intervene. Shaw was still holding the knife and said that he had just stabbed someone.

Detective Inspector Mark Hudson said: "Only Shaw knows why he carried out such a shocking attack on a colleague, who could easily have been killed.

"His colleagues have said that he used to talk about wanting to be a hitman, but Shaw's act of violence left them traumatised, but the experience for the victim has been life-changing.

"Shaw will now have plenty of time to reflect on his actions."