A MAN who randomly stabbed shoppers in Bury town centre with a screwdriver must be detained indefinitely in a mental hospital, a judge has ruled. Judge John Deveaux said 27-year-old Guy Raggatt, who said he was the Devil, posed a danger to the public.

A MAN who randomly stabbed shoppers in Bury town centre with a screwdriver must be detained indefinitely in a mental hospital, a judge has ruled.

Judge John Deveaux said 27-year-old Guy Raggatt, who said he was the Devil, posed a danger to the public.

At an earlier hearing, Raggatt, of Bowden House Clinic, Harrow, had admitted two charges of wounding with intent and one of just wounding. The court heard that one of the victims suffered a collapsed lung.

Raggatt was originally charged with three counts of attempted murder, but they were later changed to lesser charges, to which he pleaded guilty.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Liam Walsh told Ipswich Crown Court yesterday that Raggatt suffered from a mental disorder and recommended the order which the Judge later made – detaining him indefinitely in a mental hospital.

Judge Deveaux said: "There is no other appropriate disposal in this case. This is a case of serious violence.

"Members of the public are likely to be subjected to serious harm if he is released in the near future."

The Judge formally recorded not guilty verdicts on the charges of attempted murder.

Peter Gair, prosecuting, recalled the facts of the incidents in Bury on Saturday, January 25, this year.

Raggatt had gone to visit his mother, who kept the Lamb pub in Bury St Edmunds. At about 9.30am he was looking dishevelled and because of his previous mental problems was told to leave his mother's property.

Mr Gair said Raggatt made his way back into the centre of the town. At 1.15pm, while he was in Prospect Road, the incidents began.

He said Raggatt crossed the road to Michael Rayson, the subject of the wounding charge, grabbed hold of him and stabbed him in the shoulder with a screwdriver, causing a three-millimetre puncture wound.

After this, Raggatt stabbed John Rayner and Shawn Fleming, who were the subject of the two wounding with intent charges. They were walking between the Cattle Market car park and St Andrew's Street.

Raggatt approached Mr Rayner, who was stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver, causing a collapsed lung.

Shawn Fleming, an American serviceman, then felt what seemed like a punch. He too had been stabbed by Raggatt, said Mr Gair, adding that there was a puncture wound to part of his left shoulder.

Mr Fleming grabbed Raggatt, who ran off towards the town centre, but the serviceman caught up and brought him to the ground, detaining him.

Members of the public heard him rambling: "I am the Devil – you have to die."

Judge Deveaux yesterday commended Mr Fleming's actions.