Gary Lewis, a 65-year-old record shop owner, was the victim of a horrifying attack in his shop in Northallerton in July 2024. He suffered a cardiac arrest after being stabbed with a syringe filled with a powerful anesthetic called rocuronium. The attacker, 58-year-old nurse Darren Harris, was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial at Leeds Crown Court. Despite this conviction, Harris provided no explanation for his violent actions.
Gary Lewis, while recovering from the traumatic incident, expressed his confusion and fear about the motive behind the attack. He mentioned feeling a sense of paranoia and disbelief that someone would go to such extreme lengths to harm him. The attack occurred when Harris, a nurse at a hospital in Middlesbrough, traveled to Northallerton and stabbed Mr. Lewis before fleeing the scene.
CCTV footage captured the harrowing event, showing Mr. Lewis confronting Harris outside the shop before collapsing. He credited his decision to leave the shop during the attack to his training from 30 years in the police force, which ultimately saved his life. Despite his physical recovery, Mr. Lewis grappled with the psychological impact of the incident, questioning why he was targeted and left searching for answers that may never come.
Harris, who maintained that the syringe contained water, was later proven to have injected rocuronium into Mr. Lewis. Despite the lack of a clear motive or explanation from the attacker, Mr. Lewis remained hopeful that he would someday understand the reasoning behind the violent assault. The aftermath of the attack left him contemplating the uncertainty and emotional toll of the experience, as he continued to grapple with the trauma and unanswered questions lingering in his mind.
“The termination of Harris’ employment at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was in August 2024 due to a review on medication storage, including controlled drugs, in cardiac and general theatres. The investigation found that all theatres were fully compliant with national guidance. For more on this story and to hear highlights from North Yorkshire, tune in to BBC Sounds or catch up on the latest episode of Look North. The nurse involved in the needle attack has been found guilty of attempted murder.”
