Drugged-up man tells police he cannot remember stabbing two people at train station in unprovoked attack

A drugged-up man who stabbed two people in the chest at random as they talked at a train station near a football ground has been jailed.

Wayne Marsh, 24, attacked the men during a "vicious and completely unprovoked" attack at 9pm on November 20 last year.

He later claimed he had no recollection of the incident and told police: "It’s a gobsmacker."

How the attack happened

The victims, aged 21 and 23, had been on a footpath at the Hawthorns station near West Bromwich Albion FC’s stadium.

Marsh walked past them before returning minutes later and launching the brutal attack.

He then boarded a train where he changed his clothes in the toilet.

The two victims managed to make it into a nearby shop to raise the alarm and an ambulance was called.

One of the victims who was stabbed twice received a puncture wound to the chest and back, the other victim received a puncture wound to the chest.

Marsh told police: ‘It’s a gobsmacker’

A week later, officers were conducting patrols at the station when they identified Marsh from CCTV images which had been circulated.

He was arrested and taken to custody where he was asked about his knowledge of the attack during a police interview.

He claimed he was heavily under the influence of heroin at the time and told officers: “I can’t even remember being on the station… it’s a gobsmacker.”

Marsh, of Dudley, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon at Wolverhampton Crown Court on October 13.

He was jailed for three years and eight months.

‘Shocking and completely unprovoked attack’

Detective Inspector Ray Ascott, of British Transport Police, said: “This was a shocking and completely unprovoked attack on two young men minding their own business.

“Marsh is clearly a dangerous individual and it is thanks to the vigilance of our officers only a week later that he was apprehended at the very scene of the crime.

“Thankfully incidents like this are extremely rare on the railway, and we have proactive operations day and night across the network to deter violent offending.

"If you ever have any concerns while travelling, please text us discreetly on 61016 or call 999 in an emergency.”

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