A Carlisle man has been jailed for stabbing a member of the public in the street, and violently attacking a crime prevention volunteer who was trying to prevent him from shoplifting in the city centre.
Marc Proudfoot, aged 33, was said to have been ‘hassling’ a female on Botchergate at around 10pm on January 4 and described by one witness as ‘running his mouth off.’
Carlisle Crown Court heard a member of the public, who had been out with his partner and mother, approached Proudfoot.
“CCTV catches the moment, despite that female trying to push the defendant (Proudfoot) away, he lunges with force towards (the man) and stabs him to the left of his abdomen,” said prosecutor Kim Whittlestone.
One bystander described blood ‘gushing’ from a 6cm to 7cm stab wound of the man which was stitched in hospital.
Proudfoot’s weapon was brand new and one of several he had stolen from a Carlisle Asda store earlier in the day.
After his arrest, when a second blade was found in his sock, Proudfoot told a police officer: “That’s for the next one.” He also stated: “I will do the jail time, bro.”
Proudfoot admitted intentionally wounding the man and was sentenced for that and a raft of other offences today.
On 16 October, 2025, Proudfoot and another man were initially tackled at a city centre Greggs by a man involved with the Carlisle Business Crime Reduction Partnership. That man’s role was to help businesses facing anti-social behaviour and shoplifting.
Proudfoot threatened, shouted and swore at the man who followed in an attempt to prevent theft.
Proudfoot then approached the man in an alleyway off Scotch Street, outside McDonald’s, and was sprayed with a red water-based marking dye.
“Mr Proudfoot punches him, causing him to fall to the ground,” said Miss Whittlestone. “There is then a violent attack in which (the man) is repeatedly kicked and punched while on the floor.”
As bystanders intervened, Proudfoot returned and kicked the man to his head and body. He suffered lacerations, bruising, cuts to the head and suspected broken ribs.
That incident, the court, heard was seen by a young girl in McDonald’s who was left distressed.
The victim later described feeling scared, anxious, losing sleep and took time off to consider a position he had held since 1988.
While in custody after that incident, Proudfoot, latterly of Stanhope Road, Carlisle, spat in a police officer’s mouth.
On Christmas Eve, Proudfoot turned violent at Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary, swinging a punch which caught a security officer’s jaw. And the following day, Proudfoot made 11 false 999 calls.
He further admitted actual bodily harm assault, two assaults on emergency workers along with illegally and making use of a public communications network to cause annoyance, inconvenience and anxiety.
Proudfoot had since described harbouring paranoid beliefs, a fear of being attacked and threats.
Judge Nicholas Barker handed down a prison sentence totalling six years eight months and concluded Proudfoot was a “dangerous” offender. He must serve at least two-thirds of that jail term in custody, and also an extended two-year licence period.
Of the stabbing, Judge Barker said it had been a single “determined strike with a blade”. “He, in my judgement, was offering you no threat or challenge of any significance,” concluded Judge Barker of the victim.
