Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Woman Assaulted Inside Staffordshire Poundland

NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME, England — A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and a string of other serious offences after a woman was allegedly assaulted inside a Poundland store in Staffordshire.

Staffordshire Police said officers were called to Poundland on High Street in Newcastle-under-Lyme at around 5:30 p.m. BST on Friday, July 10, following reports that a woman had been attacked inside the shop.

Emergency services attended the scene and found the woman injured. She was taken to hospital for treatment before later being discharged. Police have not released her age or identity.

The suspect, Luke Mamczur, 24, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, has since been charged with attempted murder, possession of a sharp-pointed article in a public place, and committing an offence with the intent to commit a sexual offence, according to Staffordshire Police.

Mamczur appeared before the North Staffordshire Justice Centre on Monday, where the charges were formally presented. The case is expected to proceed through the courts in the coming weeks.

Police have not disclosed details about the nature of the alleged assault or the relationship, if any, between the accused and the victim. Detectives also have not confirmed whether the incident was random or if the pair were known to one another.

The attack prompted a significant emergency response in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre, with officers securing the area while forensic investigators examined the scene and gathered evidence. Witnesses were also interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have not released information about the weapon allegedly involved beyond confirming the charge of possessing a sharp-pointed article.

The incident has shocked shoppers and local businesses in the busy High Street retail area.

Staffordshire Police said the investigation remains ongoing and urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist detectives to come forward. Investigators are continuing to review CCTV footage and other evidence collected from the scene.

No further details about the victim’s condition have been released beyond confirmation that she has been discharged from hospital.

As criminal proceedings are now active, police have not commented further on the evidence surrounding the case.