A man suspected of carrying out a violent rampage on a train in Huntingdon is now accused of slashing a passenger in the face just weeks earlier, in an attack that police initially closed due to 'insufficient evidence'.
A Night Out Turns Violent
Ricky Butcher, a 36-year-old electrician, was waiting for an Uber home after a night out in Peterborough on September 27 when a man approached him. The assailant, who witnesses now believe was Anthony Williams, lunged at Mr Butcher with a kitchen knife, aiming for his neck.
"This guy looked a little confused so I shouted out to him 'are you okay mate?'," Mr Butcher recounted. "He then came towards me and as he did so a car screeched to a halt behind him and someone shouted out 'watch out he has a knife'. As they said that he swung at me, aiming for my throat, but I instinctively moved my head back and he missed."
The blade, however, caught the inside of Mr Butcher's lip, resulting in a wound that required 15 stitches. The attacker then fled the scene.
Police Case Closed and Reopened
Despite police arriving and taking statements, Mr Butcher received a text message just two days later informing him that Cambridgeshire Police was closing the case. The reason given was a lack of sufficient evidence.
Mr Butcher expressed his frustration, stating: "It’s absolute madness. The police closed my case so quickly without seemingly having a proper trawl through CCTV and making the relevant inquiries. I think the police should have treated my case with much more importance and diligence – had they done so then there probably wouldn’t be people fighting for their lives in hospital."
Following the train attack and after witnesses came forward linking the two incidents, the force has now apologised and reopened the investigation into the September slashing.
Linking the Attacks
The initial attack on Mr Butcher occurred near The Fletton Club at around 8.30pm on Saturday, September 27. The suspect was reportedly being followed by a couple in a car whom he had apparently attacked moments before confronting Mr Butcher.
This incident is now under fresh scrutiny in light of the events of November 1, where Anthony Williams, 32, has been charged with 11 counts of attempted murder. He is alleged to have boarded a train in Peterborough and stabbed ten passengers, following an earlier alleged stabbing at Pontoon Dock DLR station.
"I feel bad for all the other victims," Mr Butcher said. "The police could have stopped him a few weeks ago. Instead people’s lives are now changed forever."
