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A SEX offender launched himself from the dock at prosecutors in a horrifying attempt to stab them.

Shocking CCTV footage shows 35-year-old Joshua Harding slipping a blade out of his sleeve and attempting to "shank" assistant prosecutor Jonathan Roth.

 Joshua Harding slips a 'shank' out of his sleeve in court and attempted to stab a prosecutor
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Joshua Harding slips a 'shank' out of his sleeve in court and attempted to stab a prosecutor
 Harding launched himself across the courtroom with the blade passing inches from the assistant prosecutors face
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Harding launched himself across the courtroom with the blade passing inches from the assistant prosecutors face

The tip of the rudimentary knife slashes past just inches from the face of Roth as Harding is wrestled to the ground by cops in the courtroom.

The pervert, who had been brought to the court from Ingham County Jail, in Michigan, USA, was then handcuffed by security, one of whom sustained an injury to his face.

Harding has since been found guilty of second degree criminal sexual conduct and is due to be sentenced next month as well as awaiting further charges for his courtroom outburst.

Security at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse is also being reviewed following the massive lapse on Tuesday.

 A waiting sheriff wrestled Harding to the floor
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A waiting sheriff wrestled Harding to the floor
 Harding has since been found guilty of a sexual offence and is awaiting new charges relating to his outburst
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Harding has since been found guilty of a sexual offence and is awaiting new charges relating to his outburst

Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said that although the public, attorneys and the media are required to pass through metal detectors and X-Ray machines to access the court, inmates coming from the jail are not.

He added that the matter is something being investigated following the incident.


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