A man who stabbed an heroic security guard in the leg as he came to the rescue of a shopper who was attacked in Walsall town centre has been jailed.

Shoppers watched as security staff and youths wrestled Keiran Morley to the ground as he tried to knife Louise Pearce outside the Saddlers Centre.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday, Morley, of no fixed abode, was jailed for five years. He had pleaded guilty to wounding Russell Brown, common assault and attempted grievous bodily harm against Miss Pearce and possessing an offensive weapon.

Mr Julian Elcock, prosecuting, said, on August 23, Morley randomly attacked Miss Pearce in an alleyway shortly after she had left Tesco with her shopping.

“He pushed her against the wall and began hurling abuse at her saying he wanted to batter her. He kicked her in the leg,” he said.

Five youths around 17 came to her aid and Morley ran off. He then made his way into Wilkinsons where he bought two kitchen knives, the court heard.

Mr Elcock said: “The defendant ran towards her saying he was going to kill her. He had both knives in his hand. He lunged at her and she fell onto the ground dropping her shopping bags.

“Security guards Sean Sweet and Russell Brown went to her aid and began grappling with the defendant. Mr Brown was then stabbed in the leg by the defendant in the struggle.”

Mr Simon Williams, defending, said Morley, aged 40, was having a lot of personal problems at the time including being homeless.

Recorder Mr William Andreae-Jones QC said: “If it wasn’t for the brave actions of the people who came to Miss Pearce’s aid you could have killed her.”

Speaking after the court case, mother of one Miss Pearce, 30, from Walsall Wood, said: “Thankfully the two security guards grappled him to the ground before he could get to me. They saved my life. I would also like to thank the five lads who also helped me. If it wasn’t for them I think i would have been killed.”