Man hurt 4 in series of unprovoked, drug-fuelled knife attacks

Connor Gallagher, who has a history of violence, used knives, scissors and a screwdriver to stab, slash and threaten a series of strangers in the street.

After finding Gallagher, 22, posed a significant risk of serious harm in the future Judge Tim Mousley QC jailed him for 12 years with a three-year extended licence.

That means he will have to serve eight years before he can apply for parole and will remain on licence until 15 years are up.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the first offence took place at 9.30pm on Wednesday, April 12, when he attacked a man on Drakes Way.

He said Gallagher set about his victim, repeatedly punching him and stabbing him in the stomach with a screwdriver, after telling him 'I have got a knife. I am going to stab you with it'.

A month later he launched a series of attacks starting with another assault caught on CCTV in the Nisa Store on Alton Close at 7.30pm on Friday, May 12.

After walking up to a shopper who was buying nappies for his baby the defendant seemed to think they knew each other, which they did not.

He showed him the hilt of a knife and told him to hand over what he had before appearing to punch him in the stomach.

Gallagher then rained blows on his head before being thrown out of the store, the victim then realising he had been stabbed in the stomach, not punched.

An hour later he approached another man and told him he had a 'ting', street slang for a weapon, and would stab him if he didn't hand over his wallet, which the victim did.

Soon after he came up behind a man, who was sitting with a woman in a park near Canal Walk, and put a knife to his throat.

He said he would stab him if he didn’t hand over what he had and then set about him stabbing him in the hip are and the buttock, where the blade went in two inches.

Mr Meeke said just after midnight a taxi arrived in Cambria Bridge Road and the passengers appeared to be walking off without paying.

When the driver challenged them Gallagher, who had met the cab, attacked him and cut his scalp with scissors he had.

The defendant was seen going into a nearby house and was arrested hiding in a cupboard in the kitchen with the weapon.

Gallagher, of Stratton, admitted three counts of causing GBH with intent, robbery, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon and two counts of having a bladed article.

The court heard he was jailed for three years in 2012 for knifepoint robbery and had numerous previous convictions for violence and robbery.

When he was 15 he was put on a curfew order after he left the headmaster of a reform school with a bleed on the brain by repeatedly kicking him to the head.

Rob Ross, defending, said the court had to decide whether to impose a discretionary life term on his client, who was clearly facing a lengthy period behind bars.

He said he was still a young man and imposing a sentence with an extended licence would be sufficient to meet the threat he posed.

The first offence had not been reported, Gallagher telling police about it, and part of the motivation for the offending was to get locked up.

He said that his client had been out of trouble for two years but turned to drugs after he became homeless again earlier this year.

Referring to the CCTV footage the judge said: “That recording clearly shows the ease with which you resort to a sharp implement to stab people.”

Passing sentence he said: “The injuries you inflicted were not serious in the context of wounding with intent, I emphasise those words.

“I do not regard your offending to be so serious to impose a discretionary life sentence.”

PC Sarah Harnden said when Gallagher pleaded guilty earlier: "Connor Gallagher went on a violent assault and robbery spree that night but thanks to the bravery of his victims and witnesses, who came forward, we managed to arrest and charge this individual quickly.

"I'd like to thank everyone who helped in our investigation to bring it to this satisfactory end."