Thomas Suliman, a 39-year-old London man, has been jailed for 25 months after stabbing a supermarket shopper with a kitchen knife he removed from the shelves during a psychotic episode. The incident occurred on July 29, 2025, at a busy supermarket in Brook Retail Park, Clacton, Essex.
Attack Details
Suliman began behaving erratically inside the store before taking a kitchen knife from the shelves, removing it from its packaging, and chasing a member of the public. He plunged the weapon into the victim's thigh and abdomen. The bleeding shopper managed to flee as staff and shoppers evacuated and called 999. The victim was later taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police Response and Further Assault
PC Jamie Welsh arrived within minutes and confronted Suliman, who had significant self-inflicted injuries. PC Welsh tasered the knifeman and restrained him until backup arrived. While receiving treatment after his arrest, Suliman struck an ambulance worker across the face. He pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker, wounding without intent to cause grievous bodily harm, possessing a knife in a public place, and affray.
Sentencing and Reaction
Suliman, of Foscote Mews, Maida Vale, was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court on July 17. Chief Inspector Stuart Austin, Tendring district commander at Essex Police, said: "This was an extremely serious incident which unfolded in a busy supermarket in broad daylight and left an innocent member of the public injured. Staff and members of the public acted quickly to protect shoppers and our thoughts remain with everyone who experienced what would have been a frightening ordeal." He added: "Officers regularly face fast-moving and unpredictable situations where they must make critical decisions in a matter of seconds. It is rare to see an incident of this nature in Essex and I hope the public feel reassured that we are ready to respond whenever we are needed."
