Mark Rutter stabbed William Hill staff after losing cash on slot machine A gambler who stabbed a manager of a bookmakers in the neck with a pair of scissors after losing his money in a slot machine has been given a life sentence. Mark Rutter, 40, toppled the roulette-type machine over into television screens before attacking staff in the William Hill shop in Dalkeith, Midlothian last August. At Edinburgh High Court on Tuesday, he was sentenced to an order for lifelong restriction with a minimum of two years and eight months. Judge Lord Uist said: "It is clear to me you must have terrified the two employees." Defence QC Jim Keegan QC claimed super-fast gaming machines can rake in £10 a minute and had sparked violence throughout Britain. The lawyer told the High Court in Edinburgh that many of the incidents went unreported because the operators did not want to jeopardise their profits. Mr Keegan admitted: "I don't say that excuses the level of violence which was used after the accused went across the counter and attacked the two men. But the machine was the catalyst. The court heard Rutter had a record dating back to 1985, which included prison terms for burglary, serious assault and attempted rape. Background reports - including an assessment prepared for Rutter's defence team - branded him a high risk. Lord Uist warned Rutter: "You must not assume that you will automatically be released at the end of that period. You will be released only when the Parole Board of Scotland is satisfied you are no longer considered to be a danger to the public. Rutter had previously pleaded guilty to robbery and assault. CCTV shows Rutter smashing a security screen and pulling himself into the staff area, shouting "give me my £200 back." He tried to open tills before punching cashier Ryan Drummond on the head. He then approached deputy boss Daniel Hardwick armed with scissors. Advocate depute Richard Goddard told the court: "Mr Hardwick, fearing for his life, began pleading with the accused and shouted 'don't do it, don't do it mate'." But Rutter stabbed Mr Hardwick twice on the neck. One of the wounds was potentially life-threatening because it was close to major blood vessels. Rutter, who took £180 in notes and £20 in coins, fled when another customer told him the police were on their way. Police answering the 999 call to the shop in Dalkeith's High Street brought in a dog to help search nearby woods after reports of a man seen there, counting money. Rutter was found sitting on a river bank and detained. He claimed he had been fishing. A thorough search of the area uncovered the bloodstained scissors - with DNA on the handle matching that of Rutter. The court heard Rutter, from Liverpool, had been visiting a girlfriend in Scotland when the attack took place.