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Teenager's knife attacker jailed | |
(30 minutes later) | |
A man who repeatedly stabbed a girl and left her for dead in a Lancashire park has been jailed for life. | A man who repeatedly stabbed a girl and left her for dead in a Lancashire park has been jailed for life. |
Jessica Knight, then 14, was listening to her MP3 player when French national Kristofer Beddar, 21, knifed her about 20 times. | Jessica Knight, then 14, was listening to her MP3 player when French national Kristofer Beddar, 21, knifed her about 20 times. |
She underwent five hours of emergency surgery after passers-by found her in the park in Astley Village, Chorley. | She underwent five hours of emergency surgery after passers-by found her in the park in Astley Village, Chorley. |
Beddar was found guilty of attempted murder at Preston Crown Court and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years. | Beddar was found guilty of attempted murder at Preston Crown Court and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years. |
He had admitted wounding with intent, but claimed he had no memory of attacking Jessica and no motive to kill her. | |
Beddar, of Daisy Hill Drive, Adlington, was described in court as a loner with a fiery temper who had downed half a bottle of whisky before the attack. | |
Anyone who can do what you did must be regarded as a danger to the public Judge Anthony Russell QC | |
He later confessed to his mother Marion, saying: "Mum, I think it must have been me." She turned him in to the police. | |
Beddar was living with members of his English family at the time of the attack. | |
Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, said: "This was a frenzied attack with a knife that you habitually carried." | |
Mr Russell said Beddar had ruined the lives of Jessica, her family and his own mother - who had to give evidence against him during the trial | |
"Your intention was to kill her, no one knows why. There is no evidence of any mental illness which could explain it," the judge said. | |
"Anyone who can do what you did must be regarded as a danger to the public." | |
Jessica now suffers from long-term psychological problems | |
Jessica, now 15, was walking through the park to meet a friend when the stabbing happened. | Jessica, now 15, was walking through the park to meet a friend when the stabbing happened. |
She was knifed in the chest, neck, stomach and back and has been left with "long-term physical and psychological problems", the court heard. | |
Speaking after the hearing, Det Supt Steve Brunskill, who led the Lancashire Police investigation, said he initially thought Jessica would die following the "terrible attack". | |
He said: "When I was called to that scene that evening I believed that I would be leading a murder investigation." | |
The detective praised the actions of cyclist Gareth Crook, who found Jessica, Pc Andrew Sumner, one of the first officers on the scene, and medical staff for keeping her alive. | |
"It is not often I get to meet the victims of such horrific crimes but thankfully in this case I have been able to do so," he added. | |
"Jess is a lovely, giggly young girl, with great determination which must have been an influencing factor in her survival." |