SCARRED Justin O'Connor today relived the moment he was slashed by a craft knife, after stepping in as a Good Samaritan to help the victim of a vicious beating. He has been left with an 8in scar - and the judge who jailed his attacker said it was a miracle Mr O'Connor escaped without more serious injury.
By Tracey Sparling
SCARRED Justin O'Connor today relived the moment he was slashed by a craft knife, after stepping in as a Good Samaritan to help the victim of a vicious beating.
The judge who jailed his attacker this week said it was a miracle Mr O'Connor and the frenzied attacker's second victim escaped without more serious injury.
Mr O'Connor, 25, from Ipswich, stepped in to help when he saw another man, Ben Blomfield, being headbutted by Edward Coll when New Year celebrations turned sour on Ipswich's Cornhill, at 2.10am on January 1, 2002.
Mr O'Connor said: "I saw someone getting beaten up and I said, 'Leave it alone.'
"But he smashed a bottle over my head from behind.
"Luckily I received no injuries from that blow, but then he came back at me with the knife."
The craft knife sliced through his jacket, jumper and leather belt, ripping into his back twice.
The pain from the gashes was excruciating. Mr O'Connor now has an 8in scar across his lower back and a smaller scar at the top of his back.
FULL STORY IN YOUR SATURDAY STAR
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