Bognor man pleads guilty to Somerfield stabbing

Samuel Reid-Wentworth (22) was charged with the attempted murder of Lucy Yates who was repeatedly stabbed in the Somerfield store in Anchor Springs, Littlehampton, on September 16 last year.

Miss Yates (20) needed specialist emergency surgery at a hospital in Southampton following the unprovoked and brutal attack, which shocked other shoppers.

Reid-Wentworth, of Longford Road, stood in the dock at Hove Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday, January 27) flanked by six prison guards and psychiatric nurses.

Pierce Power, defending, said that a full psychiatric report had been carried out while the defendant was on remand at Broadmoor.

He added that a second report would need to be carried out before Reid-Wentworth could be sentenced.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall said he had pleaded guilty to a 'very serious matter'.

He ordered him to be remanded in custody to return to the same court for sentencing on February 19.

In the aftermath of the attack, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - which provides specialist mental health services - confirmed that Reid-Wentworth had received its care.

Senior investigating officer DI Jeff Riley, from Sussex Police's major crime branch, said outside the court: "I am extremely pleased for Lucy and her family that they will not have to endure the ordeal of a trial.

"My thoughts are with Lucy and hope that this decision by the defendant will go some way to aiding her recovery.

"Lucy's family were clearly devastated by the assault and were in court today to hear the defendant plead guilty."

Lucy is still experiencing some paralysis and is undergoing physiotherapy. She can walk unaided but also uses a wheelchair.