Anthony Williams, 33, accused of carrying out a mass stabbing on a train last year, has admitted multiple charges, including wounding with intent, at Cambridge Crown Court.
Williams appeared before the court by video link, where he entered guilty pleas to 14 new charges relating to the incident on an evening train service travelling from Doncaster to London King’s Cross and separate incidents allegedly committed the previous day.
He admitted wounding with intent in connection with injuries sustained by 10 people on the LNER service. He also pleaded guilty to two further counts of wounding with intent and two counts of attempting to wound relating to the earlier incidents.
Williams showed no visible emotion as he entered his pleas.
Charges Relate to Incidents Across Two Days
The defendant was arrested in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on November 1 last year following reports of a stabbing attack on the train.
Before his latest court appearance, he had denied 21 charges, including 14 counts of attempted murder. Ten of those charges related to the LNER train incident, while four concerned separate alleged incidents on October 31.
Williams also changed his pleas on seven existing charges during the hearing.
Guilty Pleas Include Threatening Behaviour and Knife Possession
Among the charges he admitted were using threatening words or behaviour at Ritzy Barbers in Peterborough on October 31, possessing a bladed article on a footbridge near Henry Pen Walk in the city, and stealing kitchen knives from an Asda store in Stevenage.
Other admissions related to November 1, including possessing a bladed article at Pontoon Dock DLR station in east London.
Williams also admitted common assault against an individual aboard a Govia Thameslink train travelling between St Pancras station and Biggleswade station.
He further admitted possessing a bladed article on the LNER train from Doncaster.
Police Responded to Emergency Calls at Huntingdon Station
Armed police were called to Huntingdon railway station on the evening of November 1 last year after passengers made emergency 999 calls.
Williams was arrested in connection with the reported incident. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a police constable on November 2.
Trial to Proceed Despite Guilty Pleas
Prosecutor Chris Paxton KC told the court that Williams’s guilty pleas did not bring the case to an end and that the trial would still begin on October 26.
Paxton also said the prosecution was not seeking a reporting restriction under Section 4 of the Contempt of Court Act, explaining that the jury would be informed that Williams had pleaded guilty to the relevant charges.
Sentencing Deferred Until Trial Concludes
Mr Justice Calver KC told Williams that sentencing would be postponed until the trial had concluded.
The trial is expected to last five weeks, with the remaining proceedings set to address the outstanding matters in the case.
