Jeweller left bleeding to death

Oct 9 2009

A TRAUMATISED dad broke down as he described finding his jeweller son bleeding to death in a car park.

John Steven was convinced his son Gareth was going to die after he was robbed and stabbed just minutes after closing his Prestwick shop.

The 73-year-old told the High Court in Kilmarnock: “I was aware of a voice shouting 'help, help me.' I recognised the voice, it was my son.”

He was giving evidence in the trial of Alistair Thomson.

The 30-year-old is accused of robbing Mr Steven of a briefcase containing £40,000 worth of jewellery before stabbing and attempting to murder him in Boyd Street, Prestwick.

The court heard how Mr Steven only survived the attack after doctors performed complex emergency surgery.

Mr Steven Sr explained to the court that Gareth had run the family business, Mary Jane, since 1998.

The normal routine for the shop was to close at 6pm and put the jewellery in the safe before the family headed off home.

But on the night Gareth was attacked in November 2007, he decided to take jewellery home to photograph and clean it.

Mr Steven Sr explained: “The day previously I'd hurt my knee so about 15 minutes before closing I told Gareth and his mother I was going to the car, in Boyd Street, to take a pain killer.

“I heard Gareth pull the shutter down, they are quite noisy. When he didn't appear straight away I assumed he'd gone to the chip shop with his mum to get us fish suppers.

“A couple of minutes later I heard banging and crashing and voices raised. There was a white van parked behind me but I paid no attention to the noise because you usually get teenagers there.

“But then I was aware of a voice shouting 'help, help me.' I recognised the voice, it was my son.

“I looked in my driver’s wing mirror and could see Gareth with what looked like two people round about him.

“I can only assume that the banging and crashing was Gareth being slammed off this van.”

Mr Steven continued: “The taller one had a hold of Gareth's briefcase and was trying to wrench it from his hand. The other appeared to be beating him, I could see his hand rising and falling.

“Gareth was trying to fight them off and keep hold of his case and shout at the top of his voice.

“I got out of the car and made my way towards them, but I wasn't as mobile as I am now.

“I was shouting and swearing at them. I could only see one of the two assailants, I assume the shorter one ran off.

“By the time I got to them, Gareth was on the ground and the taller man had his briefcase.

“He ran off through an archway and Gareth ran off after him. I think he was a bit dazed.”

Gareth chased his attacker in darkness through gardens in Boyd Street.

Realising he was unfit to follow them, Mr Steven made his way to the Boyd Street clinic where he thought the two men would appear.

As he ran into the clinic car park, Gareth's attacker attempted to jump over a wall.

But brave Gareth caught up with him and pulled him back down by his legs.

At that point, the two men exchanged words, Gareth appealed for his briefcase before being stabbed once to the left side of his body.

Mr Steven Sr went on to tell the court: “I made my way to the alleyway beside the clinic and I saw the assailant climbing over the low wall. He looked straight at me and then he turned right and made his way up Boyd Street towards the chapel at the top.

“I was more concerned with my son, I went round the side of clinic. When I got there, there were two women attending to Gareth.

“He was lying flat on his back and one of the girls was holding his head in her lap while the other was calling for an ambulance.”

Mr Steven broke down as he continued: “My son was dying. He was in a poor condition. He was very weak.”

Alistair Thomson denies the charges. The trial continues.

To keep up to date with the trial as it develops log on to ayrshirepost.net