Knifeman went crazy in Halesowen town centre (From Halesowen News)

Knifeman went crazy in Halesowen town centre

3:23pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Local

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

Gary Capper was armed with a large carving knife and jabbed the weapon at a 74-year-old woman who shielded herself with her shopping trolley.

Mavis Smart 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."

Capper then approached WPCs Belinda Hill and Joanne Dubberley, who were the first police to arrive on the scene, and he shouted at them, "Come on. I'll kill you."

He was abusive and aggressive towards them and swung the 20cm blade at WPC Hill but missed and she dived 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.

He chased a man who had 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 said 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 used tasers on him.

Capper, of Parkes Lane, Dudley, admitted two charges of attempting to wound and another of affray when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 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."