Shoplifter jailed for series of violent attacks

A shoplifter has been jailed for a series of violent attacks including stabbing a man and assaulting a crime prevention volunteer.

Marc Proudfoot, 33, from Stanhope Road in Carlisle, "repeatedly kicked and punched" the volunteer for the Carlisle Business Crime Reduction Partnership outside in the city centre in October.

In January he stabbed a man who was out with his partner and mother, after the bystander approached him for "hassling" a woman on Botchergate.

Proudfoot admitted a number of offences and was jailed for six years eight months at Carlisle Crown Court. He must complete at least two-thirds of that in custody and serve an extended two-year licence period.

During the October attack, Proudfoot and another man were initially tackled by the volunteer, whose role was to help businesses facing anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, outside a branch of Gregg's.

Proudfoot threatened, shouted and swore at the man who followed in an attempt to prevent theft.

In an alleyway by McDonald's in Scotch Street, Proudfoot approached the volunteer and was sprayed with a red water-based marking dye.

He then punched his victim, "causing him to fall to the ground", prosecutor Kim Whittlestone told the court.

"There is then a violent attack in which [the man] is repeatedly kicked and punched while on the floor," she said.

As bystanders intervened, Proudfoot returned and kicked the man to his head and body.

The court heard the victim later described feeling scared, anxious, losing sleep and taking time off to consider leaving the position he had held since 1988.

While in custody after the attack, Proudfoot spat in a police officer's mouth.

On Christmas Eve, Proudfoot turned violent again at Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary, swinging a punch which caught a security officer's jaw.

The next day he made 11 false emergency calls, the court heard.

He admitted actual bodily harm, two assaults on emergency workers and making use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety.

During the knife attack, the court heard from the prosecutor that CCTV footage showed "he lunges with force" towards the man and "stabs him to the left of his abdomen".

One bystander described blood "gushing" from the victim's wound, which required stitches in hospital.

Proudfoot's weapon had been stolen from an Asda store earlier in the day.

After his arrest, when a second blade was found in his sock, Proudfoot told a police officer: "That's for the next one."

He also said: "I will do the jail time, bro."

During sentencing Judge Nicholas Barker said Proudfoot, who admitted intentionally wounding the stab victim, was a "dangerous" offender.

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