Locations
Dunkeld Close, Liverpool, L6
Description
He had warned officers he would 'he would commit suicide before he reached prison'
A 76-year-old man who had threatened to take his own life before he reached prison slashed his neck with a craft blade in court.
Leslie Marrs produced the blade and slashed the right side of his neck moments after Judge Stuart Driver, QC, had warned the dock officer about the defendant.
Judge Driver had had just warned the dock officer before that Marrs had told probation that he would commit suicide before he reached prison."
The judge added: "He needs to be handled with particular care today."
However seconds later Marrs, who was appearing off-bail, produced a craft blade from his suit and twice slashed his neck, before the dock officer wrestled the weapon from him.
The officer then pressed paper towels to the wound while urgently calling for assistance for the former soldier and the court was cleared of most of those present which included the shocked mum of Marrs teenage victim.
Security staff arrived to administer first aid and paramedics and an ambulance rushed to Liverpool Crown Court to attend to him in the cells.
Marrs, of Dunkeld Close, Kensington, Liverpool, had just been sentenced to 32 months imprisonment after admitting sexual assault and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Anya Horwood, prosecuting, had told the court that the incident came to light when the victim, who was in her mid-teens, confided in her youth worker that some months earlier she had been sexually assaulted by Marrs who had also previously made inappropriate remarks.
When interviewed Marrs claimed that they had been discussing pubic hair and in that context touched her vaginal area.
A photograph of his penis was found on his mobile phone and he admitted the girl, who was vulnerable, might have seen it but he had not shown it to her.
In an impact statement the victims mum told how the girl had suffered nightmares and self-harmed after the assault and had displayed out of character challenging behaviour. She said she realised now that Marrs had been grooming her daughter. I believe he knew exactly what he was doing.
The court heard that he has previous convictions but none for sexual offences.
Paul Lewis, defending, said that Marrs has chronic lung issues and heart problems and some mental health problems relating to his Army service.
Sentencing Marrs earlier today ( Monday) the judge said that he had caused significant psychological harm to his victim and described her mums statement as moving.
After Marr sliced his neck the court was closed for a while to allow for it to be thoroughly cleaned.
Marrs was taken to hospital for treatment and no injuries were sustained to officers during the incident.