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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Gambler Mark Rutter who smashed up Dalkeith bookies jailed | Gambler Mark Rutter who smashed up Dalkeith bookies jailed |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A gambler who launched a "vicious attack" on bookie shop staff in Midlothian after losing £200 has been given a life sentence. | A gambler who launched a "vicious attack" on bookie shop staff in Midlothian after losing £200 has been given a life sentence. |
| Mark Rutter, 40, was ordered to serve two years and eight months before he can ask to be released for the attack at William Hill in Dalkeith. | Mark Rutter, 40, was ordered to serve two years and eight months before he can ask to be released for the attack at William Hill in Dalkeith. |
| One man was stabbed in the neck by Rutter and another was punched. | One man was stabbed in the neck by Rutter and another was punched. |
| Liverpudlian Rutter pleaded guilty to robbery, assault to life endangerment and assault on 23 August 2012. | Liverpudlian Rutter pleaded guilty to robbery, assault to life endangerment and assault on 23 August 2012. |
| Judge Lord Uist said: "It is clear to me you must have terrified the two employees." | Judge Lord Uist said: "It is clear to me you must have terrified the two employees." |
| Defence Jim Keegan claimed super-fast gaming machines, featured in a BBC Panorama programme, can take in £10 a minute and had sparked violence throughout Britain. | Defence Jim Keegan claimed super-fast gaming machines, featured in a BBC Panorama programme, can take in £10 a minute and had sparked violence throughout Britain. |
| The lawyer told the High Court in Edinburgh many of the incidents went unreported because the operators did not want to jeopardise their profits. | The lawyer told the High Court in Edinburgh many of the incidents went unreported because the operators did not want to jeopardise their profits. |
| Mr Keegan said: "I don't say that excuses the level of violence which was used after the accused went across the counter and attacked the two men. But the machine was the catalyst." | Mr Keegan said: "I don't say that excuses the level of violence which was used after the accused went across the counter and attacked the two men. But the machine was the catalyst." |
| High risk | High risk |
| Lord Uist noted that Rutter had a record dating back to 1985 which included prison terms for burglary, serious assault and attempted rape. | Lord Uist noted that Rutter had a record dating back to 1985 which included prison terms for burglary, serious assault and attempted rape. |
| Background reports, including an assessment prepared for Rutter's defence team, said he was a high risk. | Background reports, including an assessment prepared for Rutter's defence team, said he was a high risk. |
| Lord Uist warned Rutter he should not assume he would be released after two years and eight months. | Lord Uist warned Rutter he should not assume he would be released after two years and eight months. |
| "You will be released only when the Parole Board of Scotland is satisfied you are no longer considered to be a danger to the public," he said. | "You will be released only when the Parole Board of Scotland is satisfied you are no longer considered to be a danger to the public," he said. |
| Footage from security cameras showed Rutter toppling the roulette-type machine which he had been playing. | Footage from security cameras showed Rutter toppling the roulette-type machine which he had been playing. |
| It smashed into a gantry of TV screens. | It smashed into a gantry of TV screens. |
| He then smashed a security screen and jumped into the staff area behind the counter. | He then smashed a security screen and jumped into the staff area behind the counter. |
| Advocate depute Richard Goddard, prosecuting, said Rutter was shouting: "Give me my £200 back." | Advocate depute Richard Goddard, prosecuting, said Rutter was shouting: "Give me my £200 back." |
| Rutter tried to open the tills then punched cashier Ryan Drummond on the head. | Rutter tried to open the tills then punched cashier Ryan Drummond on the head. |
| He then twice struck deputy manager Daniel Hardwick on the neck with a pair of scissors. | He then twice struck deputy manager Daniel Hardwick on the neck with a pair of scissors. |
| Another customer told Rutter the police were on their way and he fled with about £180 in notes and another £20 in coins. | Another customer told Rutter the police were on their way and he fled with about £180 in notes and another £20 in coins. |
| Bloodstained scissors | |
| Police answering the 999 call to the shop in Dalkeith's High Street brought in a dog to help search nearby woods after reports of a man seen there, counting money. | Police answering the 999 call to the shop in Dalkeith's High Street brought in a dog to help search nearby woods after reports of a man seen there, counting money. |
| Rutter was found sitting on a river bank and was detained. He claimed he had been fishing. | Rutter was found sitting on a river bank and was detained. He claimed he had been fishing. |
| A thorough search of the area uncovered the bloodstained scissors - with Rutter's DNA on the handle. | A thorough search of the area uncovered the bloodstained scissors - with Rutter's DNA on the handle. |
| Lord Uist heard Rutter was in Scotland visiting a girlfriend. | Lord Uist heard Rutter was in Scotland visiting a girlfriend. |
| An Association of British Bookmakers spokesman said: "We welcome the conviction and fitting sentence for such a serious crime against betting shop colleagues. | |
| "It is highly misleading to suggest this serious criminal act committed by a person with a history of violence can be excused because of gambling losses. | |
| "Bookmakers, who are highly regulated, devote significant resources to protecting staff and customers and the suggestion by a defence lawyer that bookmakers under-report crime in the pursuit of profit is grossly irresponsible, potentially defamatory (if repeated outside court) and plain wrong." |