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Horror fan slashed sleeping pal's face with Freddy Krueger-style glove
Last updated at 00:22am on 05.04.07
Jason Moore was obsessed with Nightmare on Elm Street killer Freddy Krueger (below)
A horror movie fanatic who repeatedly slashed his terrified friend with a home-made Freddy Krueger glove was jailed for life yesterday.
Jason Moore was obsessed with the Nightmare on Elm Street killer and spent hours crafting various recreations of his 'horrific' weapon.
His final model featured four curved steel blades - each as sharp as a cut-throat razor - that were attached to a welded brass amulet.
Deranged Moore, 37, used the glove to attack his friend John Skamarski as he slept, causing slash wounds to his face, neck and hands.
In the films he worshipped his 'hero' Krueger also struck while his victims were asleep - appearing in their dreams to maim and murder them.
Police said Mr Skamarski, 59, was 'very lucky' to survive the attack with relatively minor injuries - but added that he would be traumatised for life.
Leicester Crown Court heard how Moore had a 'morbid fascination' with serial killers and horror films, particularly the Nightmare on Elm Street series.
Balraj Bhatia, prosecuting, said: "He admitted he had watched that film on around 20 occasions and on the weekend prior to this incident.
"The central character was one Freddy Krueger, and his chosen weapon of violence was a glove which had embedded in it a number of knives.
"Such was Moore's fascination that he prepared and made a number of these gloves and took some pleasure and pride in the quality of his workmanship."
Mr Bhatia said Moore put "time and effort into his creations", adding: "It is clearly a labour of love. He practised slashing curtains with the glove."
Moore, a stonemason, told a psychiatrist after his arrest how he constructed a total of four gloves - the first in the 1980s, when the film came out.
Mr Bhatia told the court: "He said that he enjoyed how the gloves looked - menacing - and that he enjoyed 'the power' he felt when he put them on."
On August 30 last year Moore met Mr Skamarski in a park before they went back to Moore's flat in Clarendon Park, Leicester, for a drinking session.
The pair consumed around four litres of cider before Mr Skamarski dozed off after taking a sleeping tablet - only for Moore to slash him as he slept.
Mr Bhatia said: "He awoke to find Moore attacking him with a bread knife and clawed glove. He fought him off in a struggle lasting around 10 minutes.
"At one point Moore said 'I am going to do you', which he took to mean he was going to kill him. He managed to calm Moore, who apologised."
Moore - who was originally charged with attempted murder - phoned 999 himself, telling the operator he didn't know why he carried out the attack.
He said: "I almost stabbed him to death. I'm going out of my mind. For some unbeknown reason I attacked him in the chest. I tried to stab his heart."
Mr Bhatia added that when quizzed by police Moore claimed he couldn't remember the incident and said he 'came to' covered in Mr Skamarski's blood.
Philip Gibbs, defending, said: "He accepts he is a danger. He has only ever wanted to understand his actions. He is a damaged individual."
Moore, who admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, was told to serve at least four-and-a-half years before being considered for parole.
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Pert QC told him: "You had taken the trouble to construct four gloves. It was plainly a labour of love for you.
"A considerable amount of work has gone into backing that glove with brass and figuring into the plates curved talons of the sharpness of cut-throat razors.
"You were fascinated with using that glove to kill someone. The person you chose was your friend, who was asleep and had no reason to expect that attack.
"You are obsessed with violence and killing and are obsessed in particular with the character of Freddy Krueger. You are an extremely dangerous man."
The court heard Moore - who was still wearing his glove when paramedics arrived - admired all the films of Nightmare on Elm Street director Wes Craven.
Craven's other movies include Last House on the Left, which was banned in the UK for 18 years because of its graphic scenes of rape and violence.
After the case Deputy Sergeant Gary Rogers, of Leicester police, who investigated the attack, condemned horror films for their excessive brutality.
He said: "It is obvious these films influence the way people act. It gives us some concern, and unfortunately we have to pick up the pieces afterwards.
"This was probably the most horrific weapon I have ever seen. The victim could have been seriously injured and will live with the trauma for the rest of his life."
Reader views (17)
Just because you watch horror movies doesnt mean you will become a killer! I have hundreds of horror movies and real like props in my house and i dont go around stabbing or cutting anyone. Its the parents fault for not teaching or shutting in there children, if you let your kids watch horror movies and explain to them what they are and why thy are made and teach your kids the respect for that and every humans life then you will be fine. Its the mentally unstable and shut ins that behave violently to this. Its like video games dont make killers aslo the media puts to much strain and views on the entertainment media when its simple parenting that fixs it. The world just needs more caring parents there were murders before movies and still are going to be more after. The freddy movies were started on events that happened in Wes Cravens home town where kids had dreams they were going to die and then later in the week they did Wes just simply took that and made a Boogeyman that made the story more interesting. Look at facts before you post replys or judgments this is why the world is the way it is..think before you speak!
- Skot Schneck, Hershey, Pa, USA
Jason Moore wasn't crazy, he just wanted to be famous for being a 'real' Freddy Krueger.
- Todd & Cricket, NC, USA
"It is obvious these films influence the way people act."
Don't blame the movies on the way people act! the blame isn't on the film but the person. I'm obsessed with Nightmare On Elm Street and Freddy Krueger but I don't feel the need to create a Freddy Krueger glove and going around slashing my friends and family. What really needs to be done is to make sure at the earliest age to teach kids the differents between reality and fiction so they don't grow up and behave in the way like this man did.
- Victoria, Crewe, England
Yes I Agree With Kayleigh-May
- Patrick-Joseph, Manchester,UK
Why did he get life for this when other crimes that result in murch worse injuries and even death, don't even get life?
- Philippa, Yorkshire, Uk
This is all nonsense. I love horror movies with a passion. I laugh at them..they don't scare me...I'm not about to go out and murder someone just because I like "scary" movies. Its rubbish.
- Kayleigh-May, London, UK
This guy was mentally unstable before this movie. People keep saying that this movie pushed him over the edge. I'm fine, I love the Nightmare on Elm Street movies. I have a plastic Freddy glove from Halloween years, and i still randomly wear it. I don't slash peoples faces. 'Nightmare' just made him a bit more 'creative'. He would've used a butcher knife instead. Doesn't remember... psycho. Why didn't they send him to an institution?
- Henry, Nunufyore, Dambusness USA
If he hadn't been into Krueger he would have fixated on something else, perhaps the Bible. The film just shaped his madness, it didn't create it.
- Helen, Market Harborough UK
Horror films are not the cause of violent behaviour. Some of you are putting the cart before the horse. There is not violent people in the world because there are horror films. There are horror films because there are violent people in the world. Most horror films are influenced in some degree by real-life events.
- K. Pears,, Kings Lynn, England
Maybe Jason Moore will be put in witness protection even though he's the one who committed the crime?
- Ryan Thompson, Oregon, USA
Life in jail means 4 and a half years in UK?
- S Smith, Milwaukee, USA
I have seen 'Nightmare on Elm Street' at least three times. I'm still as gentle as a lamb. Let's be sensible. To say that these movies cause this behaviour is silliness. People who do things like this are suffering from some psychological malady beforehand. If it's not a horror film that makes them snap, it would be some other catalyst.
- S. Parker, Indianapolis, Indiana
Must have been a nightmare for his victim.
- Dan, Manchester
Will Hollywood pleeease be more responsible in making movies? Our children are dying because of their strives for MONEY!!! Deputy Sergeant Gary Rogers, of Leicester police.... said: "It is obvious these films influence the way people act. It gives us some concern, and unfortunately we have to pick up the pieces afterwards.
- Kris Litzinger, Boise, ID
Why do we allow these movies to be shown? It's a pity.
- Maria G., Miami, FL
Seldom do I attend "horror" movies in the theatre, but when I do I find myself increasingly shocked by the number of young children in the audience.
Parents or others in custody of children should be drawn and quartered for being so self-centred that they take a child to this type of movie. How many grown nuts viewed movies of this type when children? If you don't take your 11 year old to a porno movie, don't take the same child to a horror movie.
- Kpryan, MtHood, Oregon
Movies do have copy cat viewers. Many people have been killed or injured by copying what they see on the screen. Movie producers will not admit this happens. There are too many instances of these acts to be a coincidence. Is there too much killing and violence in movies?
- John Horton, Phoenix, Arizona USA
