Failed robber stabbed soldier with screwdriver

Career criminal Michael Skeldon, 37, drove a screwdriver into the left shoulder of Scott Barrett, who has 30 years military service, as he tried to escape him after an attempted mobile phone theft.

But 46-year-old Mr Barrett, who served with both the Staffordshire Regiment and the 3rd Battalion the Mercian Regiment, clung on and handed over the thief to police. However, the injury he suffered has blighted his chance of pursuing a fresh career as a kitchen fitter.

Mr Barrett went into action outside the Asda store in Jack Hayward Way near Molineux shortly before 8pm on September 25, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

He returned to his parked van shortly after Skeldon had smashed a window and saw him leaning inside the vehicle stealing his mobile phone, explained Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting.

Mr Searle continued: "The defendant tried to get away and so Mr Barrett put him to the ground and asked a passer-by to call the police. Skeldon then produced a screwdriver and stabbed Mr Barrett in the left shoulder."

The ex-soldier hauled the attacker to his feet and continued towards two police officers who happened to have been in the supermarket, the court was told.

Skeldon, who had 52 previous convictions for theft and kindred matters, then headbutted Mr Barrett in a final, failed attempt to get away and was arrested. The screwdriver was handed to police by a member of the public.

Mr Simon Hanns, defending, said: "He had lapsed back into heroin abuse and took the mobile after seeing it in the parked van. Unfortunately for him he picked the wrong person since the injured party had had a lengthy career in the armed services and knew how to handle himself."

Skeldon, previously of Evans Street, Whitmore Reans but more recently living at Gibbons Hill Road, Sedgley, admitted assault and theft and was jailed for two years three months by Judge Martin Walsh who told him: "Your use of a weapon showed your intention to cause more serious harm than actually took place."

Mr Barrett, who is married with a family, confirmed after the case that he was launching a career as a kitchen fitter at the time of the attack but had been unable to continue in that line of work as a result of the stab wound that had left him with mobility problems in both the left shoulder and wrist. He is still receiving medical treatment and declined to comment further about the case.

Sergeant Matthew Cooper, from Wolverhampton police station, said: "Skeldon told outrageous lies throughout his interview that he was in fact the victim and the ex-soldier had assaulted him ? despite numerous witness statements to the contrary.

"Skeldon is a prolific offender and eventually changed his plea. We are satisfied with the two year and three month sentence handed to him.

"The victim, with 30 years' service in the army, had recently left to become a carpenter. Sadly, he has been unable to work since the attack, which has left him with limited use of his left shoulder.

"While nothing can make up for the impact this crime has had on the former squaddie, we hope the fact Skeldon has been taken off the streets of Wolverhampton and is unable to cause further harm in our community for the foreseeable future, provides at least some consolation."