Crazed Dudley knifeman goes on rampage in Halesowen (From Dudley News)

Crazed Dudley knifeman goes on rampage in Halesowen

10:40am Monday 9th July 2012 in News

A CRAZED love-spurned Dudley knifeman terrified shoppers when he went on the rampage in Halesowen town centre after feeling rejected by a woman, a court heard.

Gary Capper, of Parkes Lane, was armed with a large carving knife which he jabbed at a terrified pensioner who shielded herself with her shopping trolley.

Mavis Smart, aged 74, said afterwards she pleaded with Capper not to stab or kill her before he walked away when it appeared as though "all the fight went out of him."

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Capper then approached WPCs Belinda Hill and Joanne Dubberley, who were the first police to arrive on the scene, shouting "Come on. I'll kill you” while swinging the 20cm blade at WPC Hill – only missing her as she managed to dive back into the patrol car.

Oliver Woolhouse, prosecuting, said Capper, aged 28, had visited a female friend and the following morning they kissed but she stopped because it was not that kind of relationship.

The woman left her home and when she returned she saw Capper was armed with a knife and was approaching members of the public at random brandishing the weapon.

During the rampage, Capper chased a man who was forced to take refuge in a shop as he stabbed shutters at a chemist's and threatened a van driver before approaching Mrs Smart, who was just 5' 2", as she walked along High Street.

Mr Woolhouse told the court a builder came onto the street carrying a shovel to confront Capper but he backed off when he saw the size of the knife he was carrying.

He had been drinking heavily after taking medication and was finally arrested after police officers tasered him.

Capper admitted two charges of attempting to wound and another of affray and was handed a three year community order coupled with three years supervision, 200 hours of community punishment and a four month curfew order from 7pm until 6am.

John Attwood, defending, said Capper "formed the view he had been rebuffed which triggered a pretty extreme reaction that would have been extremely frightening."

Judge Michael Dudley told him: "You behaved in an incredibly dangerous way to members of the public who, not surprisingly, were terrified."