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Fitness instructor jailed at Canterbury Crown Court for 9 years after Folkestone knife attack

By: Sean Axtell saxtell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 17:57, 15 January 2021

Updated: 18:05, 15 January 2021

A rampaging fitness instructor knifed a woman in the face then held a "child hostage" before trying to slash a police officer.

Enraged Stewart Goodwin also rammed a moped driver off a Folkestone road then tried mowing his victim down, who luckily escaped.

Stewart Goodwin. Picture: Kent Police

The “dangerous” 33-year-old was jailed for nine years at Canterbury Crown Court.

Drunk and high on cocaine, Goodwin slashed his victim’s chin, grabbed a child and barricaded himself into the room of a Folkestone home.

It took multiple attempts for officers to subdue him in what prosecutors described as a "rampage."

mpu1

A total of four officers forced the door when well-built Goodwin shouted incoherently and repeatedly tried slashing PC Davis with a kitchen and flick-knife.

But the brave officer parried his attacks with a shield and then tazered Goodwin to the floor, his colleagues then tried rounding on the knifeman.

However, charged on drink and drugs Goodwin stripped off the tazer-barbs before lunging into another attack, kicking and head-butting officers until he was finally subdued.

The woman suffered a deep 8cm cut to her chin, felt too weak to walk and bled profusely, she still suffers facial numbness and could be scarred for life, the court heard.

Goodwin pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, actual bodily harm, child cruelty and four counts of assaulting an emergency worker at a previous hearing.

Canterbury Crown Court. Stock picture

Prosecutors told how Goodwin was released under police investigation three months before the May attacks, for using his car as a weapon on another victim.

He, in a fit of road rage, drove his Vauxhall Insignia twice into the back of a moped in Radnor Park West, David Dainty explained.

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The bike destroyed, his victim fled to a group of nearby workmen when Goodwin accelerated towards them and smashed into a barrier after they jumped out of the way.

Goodwin, of Deacon Drive in Basildon, Essex, could be seen holding his head in his hands over video-link from HMP Elmley as the evidence was read.

He told the court in retrospect the evidence was “too hard to listen to.”

Goodwin, from Essex appeared via video-link from HMP Elmley on the Isle of Sheppey

But Judge Rupert Lowe told Goodwin using his car as a weapon took road rage “to a whole different level.”

“You drove into him using your car as a weapon impacting his moped twice, and on the second occasion knocking him off.

“He ran away, it appears you further pursued him in your car,” he added.

Speaking of Goodwin’s female victim, he added: “Exactly three months later you committed the more serious offences.

“Having threatened to cut her, you then cut her with the knife, slicing her across the chin causing a deep cut that caused nerve damage and bled profusely.”

'You drove into him using your car as a weapon impacting his moped twice...'

The judge added Goodwin had essentially "taken the child as a hostage."

The court heard Goodwin, who has racked up 24 convictions, suffered a traumatic childhood.

Raised in care he was diagnosed with conduct disorder, which later developed into mixed personality disorder, substance abuse and paranoia.

James Burke, mitigating, said Goodwin had tried to “steer a meaningful course in society” after qualifying as a fitness instructor.

Goodwin pleaded guilty before trial and his mental health had deteriorated, Mr Burke said in mitigation.

'If he abstains from drugs and gets help with mental health the risk is drastically reduced...'

“If he abstains from drugs and gets help with mental health the risk is drastically reduced.”

But Judge Lowe said Goodwin posed a public risk, deemed him “dangerous” and handed out an extended sentence.

Goodwin, who also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for the driving offence running consecutively with a 9 year extended sentence for the violence offences.

Because of time spent on remand, he will spend eight years and four months in custody plus 20 months on extended licence.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

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