A man known as “Scouse Carlos” who was named as the “most wanted” fugitive from Crimestoppers has admitted to repeatedly stabbing a man with scissors.
Ryan McLean, 39, of Liverpool but lives in Brighton, fled the south coast after attacking his victim at the Rishi News store on South Street, Portslade, on 27 February. The victim, a 29-year-old local man, entered the store and launched a sustained attack, which included stabbing him with scissors.
Local media said the incident came after an apparent chase involving a gray Volkswagen and a silver BMW driving at high speed through the area. McLean was then seen walking the victim to the store, before fleeing the scene in a BMW.
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The victim was rushed to hospital with “serious injuries” after a member of the public called 999. An investigation was launched and Sussex police officers recognized the career criminal McLean in the pictures. , which provoked a great hunt to bring him to justice.
The incident was said to have as its backdrop “drug trafficking, fiefdoms and arson.” As part of the public appeal, the charity Crimestoppers offered a £ 3,000 prize for information leading to McLean’s arrest.
After weeks of fleeing, Merseyside police picked up McLean in Dingle shortly before 10pm on Friday 29 April. He was charged with grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and was jailed.
McLean pleaded guilty to both charges at a hearing in Lewes Crown Court and is due to be convicted on July 15. Sussex Police Detective Inspector Neil Phillips said: “This was a blatant and violent attack carried out in the middle of the day with utter indifference to the general public.
“McLean not only left his victim with horrific injuries, which could easily have been tragically worse, but he fled hundreds of miles in an attempt to escape justice.
“Thanks to the tenacity of our Merseyside police officers, staff and partners, we were able to arrest him, where overwhelming evidence left him with no choice but to plead guilty to his crimes.”
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