A MAN who stabbed another man in Barrow town centre with a pair of scissors in front of horrified shoppers has been jailed for 10 years.

Bystanders were left stunned on the morning of October 12 last year as a large section of Dalton Road near Specsavers in Barrow was cordoned off with police tape after Daniel Barker attacked Rocky Thomson.

The force used to strike Mr Thomson was so severe, the end of the scissors snapped off and was left embedded in his head. He was stabbed at least four times.

During previous court hearings, prosecutors have described how the shocking attack was because of a minor dispute between Mr Thomson and a relative of Barker's.

Mr Thomson had asked a group of people, one of which was Barker's relative, to leave a property where a young baby was living because they were drinking and being rowdy.

That incident then led to Barker approaching Mr Thomson in the street and stabbing him in the head.

Losing a large amount of blood, Mr Thomson was taken to Furness General Hospital but was immediately transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital by air ambulance because of the severity of his injuries.


He was eventually discharged but the 26-year-old has been left with a number of permanent scars, including a 1cm cut on the left side of his forehead, one on the top of his forehead by his hairline and two on his back.

Almost a month after the attack, and having been identified as the attacker, Barker handed himself in and was arrested and later charged with wounding with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

Barker was sentenced yesterday at Preston Crown Court and was jailed for 10 years and nine months.

Investigating detective DC Mandy Stables said: “I am pleased that Barker will now pay for what he did, after handing himself in at Barrow police station. Unfortunately his victim has been left with permanent scarring. However, he is very lucky to be alive after suffering the injuries he did.

“Cumbria police will not tolerate violence and this attack, on the streets of Barrow in broad daylight, was completely unacceptable.”

Barker, of Anchor Road in Barrow, had maintained his innocence at every court appearance and a trial was originally scheduled to take place in May.

However, as witnesses and the victim prepared to give evidence, 25-year-old Barker, who has a number of previous convictions for violent offences, changed his plea to guilty.