Wallsend robber stabbed 'good Samaritan' who saved his life

BBC News

07-04-2025

A drug addict who stabbed and robbed a man who had saved his life has been jailed for more than 12 years.Alan Dugdale, 51, was encouraged in the steak knife attack by his 36-year-old girlfriend Jamie Burrows, Newcastle Crown Court heard.The victim was left with multiple "appalling" injuries and said he felt he had been "targeted" for being a "good Samaritan".Dugdale, who had some 100 offences on his criminal record, admitted robbing the man and burgling another person's home. Burrows admitted robbery and handling stolen goods and will be sentenced at a later date.
Dugdale, of Laurel Street, Wallsend, North Tyneside, and Burrows, previously of Dilston Road in Fenham, Newcastle, went to a man's flat in Walker in September 2020, prosecutor Jessica Slaughter said.The man knew Dugdale because he had previously saved the drug addict's life when he overdosed outside the victim's home, Ms Slaughter said.
'Poured bleach on clothes'
The victim let Dugdale and Burrows in and they drank together before the defendants suggested the trio have sex, the court heard.As Burrows began performing a sex act on the man, Dugdale started shouting and screaming and grabbed a steak knife which he used to repeatedly stab the man with, the court heard.Dugdale also punched and kicked the man and poured bleach over his clothes, before the couple stole items including a tablet and phone, which Burrows had demanded the man give them the passcodes for, Ms Slaughter said.As they left the injured man, Dugdale threatened to burn his home down if he reported the attack to police, the court heard.The man staggered to a friend's home and was taken to hospital, the court heard.He was found to have a broken nose, heavy swelling to his face and multiple cuts to his arms, shoulders and forehead, the court heard.
'Disgusting invasion'
In a statement, the man said he had been the victim of a "vicious attack" after doing a "decent thing and helping someone".He said he felt "targeted for being a good Samaritan" and was worried about being "revictimised".Dugdale was also sentenced for a burglary, having broken into and ransacked a flat in Heaton in August 2019, stealing goods worth £1,700 including a TV, games console, clothes and trainers.Burrows admitted handling stolen goods as Dugdale was seen on CCTV going to her home and sharing the loot with her, with Dugdale captured trying on a pair of the stolen shoes.The victim of the burglary said he had felt "sickened and upset" and feared being targeted again every time he went out, adding the "invasion" and theft had been "disgusting".
'Appallingly gruesome attack'
Dugdale, who had 32 convictions on his record for 100 offences including 18 burglaries and several wounding attacks, was also dealt with for assaulting an emergency worker.Ms Slaughter said he was arrested at Asda in Wallsend in May last year as part of an operation targeting wanted criminals.She said it was not a "straightforward or dignified" arrest, with Dugdale making it as "difficult as possible", shouting at officers, resisting handcuffs and then moving as if to spit at a female officer.Judge Tim Gittins told Dugdale the robbery victim had previously helped him, adding: "And yet, you chose to go on to treat him in the appallingly gruesome fashion we have heard about."Dugdale was jailed for 10 years for the robbery and 876 days, which is about two years and five months, for the burglary, to be served consecutively.
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