Geoffrey Ryan, 53, was sentenced to 28 years for slashing a security guard’s neck, causing serious wound. He was convicted of attempted murder and racially aggravated harassment at trial.
Det Insp Lydia George, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said the wound was “millimetres from being fatal”.
Ryan will also serve an extended three-year licence and will not be eligible for release for at least 19 years.
What had happened
Ryan had been drinking in The Lounge, in Market Square, on 9 September 2022. He approached a security guard and used a razor to slash the victim’s neck after being escorted out of the venue because he was harassing a group of women.
Ryan arrived at the venue at about 4pm. He began to cause issues with other customers as his drinking continued. At about 9pm, two members of security staff arrived to start their shift and Ryan soon approached them and abused them.
Soon after, at about 9.30pm, a group of women reported Ryan had been harassing them. Ryan was warned by security staff, and he continued to religiously abuse them.
When he did not stop, he then threw a drink over the victim. Ryan was then escorted out of the venue as he continued to try to assault the door staff. Despite being told to leave, Ryan continued to abuse the security staff and, after an exchange, he approached the victim, flicked a cigarette at him and threatened to kill him.
Although he appeared to be leaving, he returned with a hood to the town centre shortly before 11.30pm. He walked to The Lounge and immediately approached the victim and used a razor to slash the victim’s neck.
The victim sustained a serious wound which required immediate medical care in order to save his life. Thanks to that care, the victim has thankfully been able to make a recovery.
Emergency services were called to the scene and arrived within minutes. Ryan had been detained by members of the public. He was immediately arrested, and a blade was located in a bush which he was lying beside.
Ryan, of Brick Kiln Way, Braintree, was charged with attempted murder and racially aggravated harassment.
He offered a plea to the lesser offence of grievous bodily harm with intent, but this was rejected as detectives and our Crown Prosecution Service colleagues felt there was clear intent to kill in Ryan’s actions.
He denied the charges but was found guilty after a week-long trial in Chelmsford Crown Court. He was sentenced to 28 years at the same court on 5 April.
Leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Lydia George, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “It is no exaggeration to say that this incident could very easily have been a murder investigation. Ryan showed clear intent to kill; there is no doubt this was attempted murder.
“It is only thanks to the work of officers and medics at the scene that the victim’s life was saved. The wound was millimetres from being fatal.”
(Source: ITV)
(Images: Essex Police)
