Man 'injected record shop owner with anaesthetic'

Darren Harris denies attempted murder but has admitted administering a noxious substance

A record shop owner was stabbed by a customer who injected him with a muscle relaxant used as a hospital anaesthetic, a court heard.

Gary Lewis, 65, was attacked as he was behind the counter at Betterdaze in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on 2 July last year.

A trial at Leeds Crown Court was told how Darren Harris, 58, of Middlesbrough, injected him in the right buttock with a syringe containing rocuronium, which he had stolen from the hospital where he worked as an anaesthetics nurse.

Mr Harris denies attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent, but has admitted administering a noxious substance.

Stabbed in buttock

Prosecutor Richard Herrmann said the attack was a "manifestation of two of the greatest human fears - an attack from a complete stranger in broad daylight and the victim being left unable to communicate while still hearing everything that was going on around them".

Mr Herrmann told the court Mr Lewis had opened his shop as usual on the Tuesday morning, and Mr Harris had parked nearby and gone in at about 10:00 BST.

Mr Lewis, he said, believed Mr Harris was a regular vinyl enthusiast and customer, who spent lots of time browsing. CCTV showed he had previously visited Betterdaze on 29 May.

The prosecutor said Mr Harris was seen going in and out of the shop several times on 2 July until 14:15 BST, when he came in again to buy a record.

As Mr Lewis turned away to put some money into a cash box, Mr Harris leaned over and stabbed him in the buttock with a needle.

Mr Harris then ran out of the shop, and as the effects of the drug were delayed, Mr Lewis was able to follow him and tell people outside what had happened before he lost consciousness.

Mr Herrmann said: "If he had not been able to do this, then it is likely he would have died alone in his shop behind his counter.

"It would have been put down to natural causes."

Mr Lewis was treated at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough

Giving evidence in court, Mr Lewis said he had owned Betterdaze since 2010, after working for 30 years as a police officer.

On the day of the incident, he said Mr Harris had been in the shop for a while and had asked a few questions about what he had for sale, "like all customers do".

"Then he came to my counter and he said, 'You won't remember me, but I came in a few weeks ago and sold you some records'."

Mr Lewis said he did not recognise him, as he buys records from people several times a week.

When asked by the prosecution if he argued with Mr Harris that day, he said: "Absolutely not. I would remember that, I've never had an argument with anyone in the shop."

He said they were the only people in the shop, and Mr Harris came to the counter to pay cash for an Ian Dury LP and "suddenly he was behind me, his head was level with my hip, and he stabbed me".

"He didn't say a word. I felt a sharp prick, exactly like a syringe feels, it was deep and painful," Mr Lewis told the jury.

'State of paralysis'

He said Mr Harris ran out of the shop, and he followed him, shouting 'what was that?'.

"I felt utter shock, I can't describe it," he told the court.

"By the time I got out, he was at his car. I said again, 'What was that?' and he replied 'Only water, mate!'

"I started to feel dizzy, felt my legs go numb. I felt I was more and more unable to move, I was collapsing, it was like I was crumbling."

He added: "I knew I was losing consciousness, I was in a state of paralysis, nothing would move, I felt like I was choking.

"I was even trying to scream but I couldn't."

Consultant anaesthetist Alistair White, who treated Mr Lewis at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, said tests showed he was "either fully unconscious or fully paralysed".

He said he was unsure what had happened to him, but ruled out opiates and even use of a nerve agent such as novichok.

It was only when they tested him again - moments before a breathing tube was to be inserted - that doctors realised his condition had improved and intubation was not necessary.

He said it was then that doctors learnt he had been attacked by a man who worked in anaesthetics, and the use of rocuronium was considered.

The trial continues.

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