Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Friday 11th April 2025 at 17:55hrs
A nurse has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years after attempting to murder a complete stranger in a shocking and unprovoked attack in Northallerton last year.
Darren Harris, 58, of Amesbury Crescent in Middlesbrough, was handed the sentence at Leeds Crown Court this afternoon (Friday, April 11, 2025).
The victim, Gary Lewis, who owns and manages a vinyl record shop on Zetland Street in Northallerton, was working in his store on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, when the incident occurred.
The court heard that Harris, who at the time worked as an anaesthetist nurse at an NHS hospital, entered Mr. Lewis’s shop shortly after 10 am and browsed records.
Harris, who was not known to Mr. Lewis, was seen in and out of the shop throughout the morning.
At 1:38 pm, Harris returned to the shop for the final time. Approximately an hour later, he approached Mr. Lewis, who was sitting behind the counter in a confined space, feigning interest in purchasing a record.
As Mr. Lewis turned away to put cash in the till, Harris injected him in the buttock with a hypodermic needle containing Rocuronium, a powerful muscle relaxant that can cause respiratory arrest.
Harris immediately fled the store and attempted to drive away. However, Mr. Lewis bravely pursued him and blocked his vehicle, preventing his escape.
Within minutes, Mr. Lewis’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and he stopped breathing and became unconscious.
The swift actions of several members of the public, who witnessed the aftermath of the attack, were crucial in providing initial first aid before emergency services arrived, undoubtedly saving Mr. Lewis’s life.
During this time, Harris reportedly refused to assist and, upon being detained by police officers, falsely claimed he had injected Mr. Lewis with water.
Harris denied charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent but admitted to administering a noxious substance.
He did not testify during the trial, but the jury heard recordings of his police interview.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, he was found guilty of attempted murder.
Following the sentencing, Gary Lewis expressed the profound impact of the attack, stating:
“My life and that of my family, friends and colleagues has been irrevocably changed by the violent and unprovoked actions of Darren Harris on that day in July.
I’m grateful for the overwhelming help and support that I have had throughout the six months since this attack.”
Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Wilkinson, the Senior Investigating Officer from North Yorkshire Police, commented:
“This unprovoked violent attack left Mr Lewis with serious injuries. Although the physical injuries may heal, the mental trauma of the attack will stay with Gary for life.
I’d also like to thank the members of the public who came to Gary’s aid on the afternoon of the attack, they ensured initial first aid was given to him before emergency services arrived and also made sure that Darren Harris wasn’t able to leave the scene.
This has been a complex investigation, and I would like to thank my team for their hard work in bringing Harris to justice. I hope today’s sentence goes some way to helping Gary come to terms with what has happened.”
Edmund Hall of the Crown Prosecution Service added:
“Harris attempted to murder the victim in an entirely indiscriminate attack. We cannot imagine the terrifying impact of this attack which left the victim paralysed at the time but with the full knowledge of knowing what was happening to him, including the risk of death.
Fortunately, he did not die because of the intervention of medical experts and support of local people. Harris showed no remorse for his attack and constantly denied he attempted to murder the victim.
We want to thank the investigative work of North Yorkshire police which supported the CPS prosecution of the defendant, and hope the sentence offers the victim and his family a sense of justice for this shocking and life-threatening attack.”
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