Christopher Gibson, 44, of Seaforth Road, has been given a hospital order after stabbing a stranger in a convenience store in Seaforth. The attack occurred on March 8 this year, when Gibson followed Rory Murphy into the shop and struck him with a large kitchen knife.
Attack in convenience store
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Gibson passed Murphy on Seaforth Road and said hello. Murphy, who did not know Gibson, replied and continued walking. Gibson then followed him, staring at him, and when Murphy entered a convenience store, CCTV showed Gibson attacking him with a large purple kitchen knife.
Gibson left the scene on foot, and Murphy attended hospital with an injury to the rear of his left shoulder. He required several days off work and was left with increased anxiety, distrust of others, and sleeping difficulties.
Background and arrest
Police found Gibson in possession of the weapon and arrested him. He had been the victim of an assault by a different male earlier that day, but Murphy had no link to that attack. Gibson has 11 previous convictions for 17 offences, including a suspended sentence for sexual assault in November 2025, which he is appealing.
Gibson reported auditory hallucinations and has a history of paranoid schizophrenia, diagnosed as early as 2004. The court heard he had a history of accessing extreme online content and expressed support for terrorist acts. During four months of treatment at Rowan View Hospital, no significant improvement was noted, and he continually denied suffering from a mental illness.
Court sentencing
Gibson admitted attempted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing via video link, he was handed a section 37/41 hospital order, meaning he will not be discharged until deemed safe by the Ministry of Justice.
Carmel Wilde, defending, said Gibson was sorry and was not medicated when he came out of prison. She noted he had been cooperating at Rowan View and was not hearing voices to the same extent. She added that he was educated and that bullying at school and substance abuse may have been triggers.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said the knife had a six-inch blade and that had the blow landed elsewhere, the consequences could have been much worse. He noted Gibson had expressed an intention to stab Murphy in the neck, and that the offence represented an escalation in his offending.
