LESLEY MARRS INJURES HIMSELF IN COURT AT LIVERPOOL
A 76-year-old man, Leslie Marrs, who had previously warned officers he would 'commit suicide before he reached prison,' attempted to harm himself during a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.Marrs produced a craft blade and slashed the right side of his neck just moments after Judge Stuart Driver, QC, had cautioned the dock officer about the defendant.
Prior to the incident, the judge had also been informed that Marrs had told probation services he would take his own life before going to prison.
In response to this warning, Judge Driver stated, "He needs to be handled with particular care today." Despite this, seconds later, Marrs, who was appearing out of bail, pulled a craft blade from his suit and made two slashes to his neck.
The dock officer quickly intervened, wrestling the weapon away from him.
An officer pressed paper towels against Marrs’s wound and immediately called for assistance.
The court was cleared of most attendees, including the mother of Marrs’s teenage victim, who was reportedly shocked by the incident.
Security staff arrived swiftly to administer first aid, and paramedics and an ambulance attended to Marrs in the court’s cells.
Marrs, of Dunkeld Close, Kensington, Liverpool, had recently been sentenced to 32 months in prison after admitting to sexual assault and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life.
During proceedings, prosecutor Anya Horwood revealed that the incident came to light when the victim, a girl in her mid-teens, confided in her youth worker that several months earlier, Marrs had sexually assaulted her and previously made inappropriate remarks.
When interviewed, Marrs claimed that the girl had been present during a discussion about pubic hair and that he had touched her vaginal area in that context.
A photograph of his penis was found on his mobile phone.
He admitted that the girl, who was vulnerable, may have seen the photo but insisted he had not shown it to her.
The victim’s mother gave an impact statement, describing how her daughter had suffered nightmares, self-harmed, and exhibited challenging behavior following the assault.
She expressed her belief that Marrs had been grooming her daughter and stated, "I believe he knew exactly what he was doing." Although Marrs has previous convictions, none are for sexual offenses.
Defense lawyer Paul Lewis explained that Marrs has chronic lung issues, heart problems, and mental health issues related to his Army service.
In sentencing, the judge acknowledged the significant psychological harm caused to the victim and highlighted the emotional impact detailed in her mother’s statement.
After Marrs’s self-inflicted injury, the court was temporarily closed to allow for cleaning.
Marrs was transported to hospital for treatment, and there were no injuries to officers during the incident.
