A man named as a Crimestoppers ‘most wanted’ fugitive and known as ‘Scouse Carlos’ has admitted repeatedly stabbing a man with a pair of scissors. Ryan McLean, 39, originally from Liverpool but living in Brighton, attacked his victim in the Rishi News convenience store on South Street, Portslade, on February 27 before fleeing the south coast.
Sussex Police said CCTV footage captured a man chasing the victim, a 29-year-old local man, into the shop. It showed him launching a sustained attack, which included stabbing him with scissors.
According to local media, the incident followed an apparent chase involving a grey Volkswagen and a silver BMW estate driving at speed through the area. McLean was then seen to chase the victim on foot into the shop, before fleeing the scene in the BMW, the Liverpool Echo reports.
READ MORE:
The victim was rushed to hospital with "serious injuries" after a member of the public called 999. An investigation was launched and Sussex Police officers recognised career criminal McLean on the footage, prompting a major manhunt to bring him to justice.
The incident was said to have followed a backdrop of "drug dealing, feuding and an arson attack". As part of the public appeal, the charity Crimestoppers offered a £3,000 award for information leading to McLean's arrest.
After weeks on the run, Merseyside Police picked McLean up in Dingle shortly before 10pm on Friday, April 29. He was charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and remanded in custody.
McLean pleaded guilty to both charges at a hearing in Lewes Crown Court and is due to be sentenced on July 15. Sussex Police Detective Inspector Neil Phillips said: "This was a brazen, violent attack carried out in the middle of the day with complete disregard for the general public.
"Not only did McLean leave his victim with horrific injuries – which could easily have been tragically worse – he fled hundreds of miles in an attempt to escape facing justice.
"Thanks to the tenacity of our officers, staff and partners in Merseyside Police, we were able to bring him into custody, where the overwhelming evidence left him with no choice but to plead guilty to his crimes."
For the latest headlines and more straight to your inbox, click here.
