Knifeman who crashed into ambulance admits robbery, violence and attempted murder

A 32-year-old has admitted a terrifying crime spree during which he attempted to murder a man, injured four other people, staged two robberies, threatened police with a knife and crashed head on into an ambulance in a stolen car.

The mayhem was caused by Renroy Johnson who ran amok armed with a knife just yards from his home in Tamar Close, Brownhills, shortly before 5pm on October 30.

The violence started when he attacked Jake Fletcher, an innocent man walking down the street, before bursting into McColls newsagent in nearby Shannon Drive.

There he assaulted shop assistant Julie Maskell and Dean Oakes, a customer who came to the worker's aid, before fleeing with around £560 cash.

Johnson returned to the flat block where he lived but went upstairs to break into another flat, attacking both Kevin Leighton, aged 57, and his 27-year-old son Liam.

He left the younger man with serious chest wounds, while his father suffered injuries to the abdomen and head, police said at the time.

Next the knifeman raced across the road to another block of flats where he forced his way into the home of Collette Cathy, stealing the keys to her Renault Clio and driving off in the car.

But he got no further than neighbouring Wilkin Road where he crashed head on into an ambulance responding to the earlier stabbing. Johnson then used his knife to threaten police who had to Taser him before he could be arrested.

The startling sequence of events was revealed in ten charges which he admitted when he appeared by video link at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Liam Leighton, wounding Kevin Leighton with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assaulting Jake Fletcher, Julie Maskell and Dean Oakes, robbing Alex Hemmings of £560, robbing Collette Cathy of car keys and a motor vehicle, dangerous driving in Wilkin Road, affray and possession of a knife.

Mr John Lucas, defending, said Johnson had suffered from mental health issues for some years without incidents.

He explained: "The mental state in which he was capable of committing these offences was created by non adherence to the strict terms of a medical regime coupled with the use of illegal drugs.

"He was mentally unfit at the time as a result of the concoction of drugs he had consumed but, with treatment, has been getting better and better since then and is now fit to plead."

Mr Darron Whitehead, prosecuting, said: "There is no basis for the guilty pleas which are entered on a full facts basis."

Judge Michael Challinor observed: "People like Mr Johnson go in and out of psychiatric illness. There can be a time when they are perfectly alright and another when they are not."

He ordered that a report be prepared to determine whether the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder and, if so, whether it is treatable.

The case was adjourned by the court to a date to be fixed when full details of the case are likely to be given to the court.

Johnson was remanded in custody until a date has been arranged.