Countdown champion stabbed rival at fans’ event in Blackpool

A knife-wielding Countdown champion who stabbed a rival participant at a fan membership event “felt cheated” different rivals used an app to practise the sport on-line, a courtroom has heard.Preston Crown Court docket heard John Cowen, 31, ran throughout Wainwright Social Membership in Blackpool with a knife and lunged throughout a desk to assault Thomas Carey.It occurred on 14 September 2024 on the Focal Countdown Group occasion, the place ex-contestants have been on account of play in opposition to followers of the Channel 4 present.Choose Man Mathieson mentioned he had dominated Cowen unfit to face trial and instructed jurors to as an alternative decide the information of what had occurred. They discovered he had dedicated assault and had been in possession of a knife in a public place.CCTV footage capturing Cowen, a Cambridge maths graduate, getting into the venue shortly after 11.30 BST was proven in courtroom.About 30 individuals have been within the membership’s perform room on the time, together with Mr Carey.Mrs Scott Bell mentioned: “The defendant had a knife in his left hand. You possibly can nearly make it out, glinting as he walks previous the digital camera.”He seems to see Mr Carey and he then breaks right into a run and he goes straight for him. “The defendant lunged throughout the desk together with his left hand going straight in direction of Mr Carey.”Mr Carey was pressured again on to the seat behind him and you’ll nearly make out him attempting to kick in direction of the defendant.”Mr Carey then grabbed the defendant’s wrist in an endeavour to cease the assault.”By then he had been stabbed.”The courtroom heard Cowen was pulled away from Mr Carey by others within the room and restrained on the bottom earlier than police have been referred to as.The sufferer was handled in hospital for a stab wound to his left bicep.When Cowen was arrested he was searched and located to have one other kitchen knife in his pocket, the prosecution mentioned.Mrs Scott Bell mentioned Mr Carey had been a member of the Countdown fan membership since 2011 and knew Cowen from different occasions.Giving proof, he mentioned he heard a “half-growl, half-scream” earlier than he noticed Cowen holding a knife.Jurors have been instructed among the attendees on the conventions – held month-to-month throughout the UK – used an app to practise the sport on-line.Jonathan Lally, defending, requested Mr Carey: “Are you able to ever recall that he thought individuals have been utilizing the app and he felt cheated?”Mr Carey mentioned: “Sure, he mentioned one thing like that sooner or later.”Cowen, from Morecambe in Lancashire, was not current in courtroom as jurors have been instructed he was “significantly psychological unwell” and in hospital.He appeared on Countdown in 2017 and scored the third-highest whole rating throughout his collection.He competed in an extra 11 episodes of the quiz present, profitable eight consecutive contests, earlier than being lastly defeated. Cowen’s sentencing listening to was adjourned to 30 September pending psychiatric studies.