Drug addict 'lucky' not to have killed attack victim

Judge jails thug for knifing man in neck

- By ADAM EVERETT

A THUG stabbed a man in the neck in a “revenge” attack after apparently being “ripped off” in a drug deal.

Alexander Davidson was said to have carried out the brutal assault in a pharmacy while “desperate” for heroin and crack cocaine.

The addict then ditched the weapon which he used to stab his victim before being arrested in Liverpool ONE later the same day. On Friday, a judge told him that he was “exceptionally lucky” not to be facing a murder charge in an incident that could have “easily” killed the other man.

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that Mark Thompson entered Kays Pharmacy on London Road in Liverpool city centre at around 3.30pm on March 4 this year in order to pick up his prescription.

Tom Challinor, prosecuting, outlined how he was followed into the pharmacy by Davidson, who was captured on CCTV approaching from behind as the complainant stood at the counter before plunging a “sharp bladed implement” into his neck.

Davidson, of no fixed address, then “retreated and exited” the premises. The now-38-year-old was later arrested in Liverpool ONE in possession of a pair of tweezers after officers recognised him from footage of the attack, which had been circulated among the force.

Mr Thompson was left with his hands covered in blood following the incident and “appearing blank and in shock”. He sustained a 2cm-deep cut to the left side of his neck as a result a wound which was stapled shut after he was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital for treatment.