Guilty: Thug slashed friend's throat in busy Wolverhampton shopping centre

Danny Miller slashed Michael McIntosh with a Stanley knife after the pair - who had fallen out of money - argued in a shop in the middle of Wolverhampton.

The 41-year-old was detained by Poundland security guard Daniel Paul who saw Miller drop the knife in a litter bin while fleeing from the store on July 30 last year.

A jury convicted Miller from Weston Drive, Bilston of wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon after a three day trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He was remanded in custody for pre-sentence reports until May 13 when he will also be dealt with for possession of a second offensive weapon on the same occasion - a friction lock baton. He admitted this offence but denied the others.

Security guard Mr Paul told the court: "I heard a crashing sound like stock falling over and a man running towards me as if he was going to leave the shop. I heard another male shouting 'stop him - look what he has done to my neck.' I saw this person holding the left side of his neck. There was a fair amount of blood.

"I grabbed the first man as he went past me. He was waving his arms around. I realised the other person had been stabbed and did not know if the person I was holding had a knife. I loosened my grip and he broke free. I began to chase him and radioed for back up.

"Just outside Poundland I saw him wave his hand towards the opening of a bin. I saw the reflection of something shiny and assumed it was a knife.

"He ran into Argos and went through the store towards the back of the shop where I took him to the floor. I brought him down using my body weight and called for back up. The police arrived soon afterwards and he was arrested."

Police later found a Stanley knife in the litter bin identified by Mr Paul but Miller had been wearing gloves and neither fingerprints nor blood were found on the weapon.

Officers also discovered the friction lock baton, similar to those issued to police officers, in the rucksack he was carrying when arrested although there was no suggestion this weapon was used in the attack.

Mr McIntosh was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he underwent an operation to repair the wound to his neck that went through skin and fat but did not hit any artery or vein.

Mr Graeme Simpson, prosecuting, told the jury: "He was very lucky. It is quite merciful that you are trying a case of this nature and not something more serious."

Miller declined to give evidence during his trial and no evidence was presented to support his defence.