Police warning after Suffolk stabbing

By Tracey Sparling

POLICE today warned all female motorists driving alone not to stop in remote areas after a woman was stabbed in the stomach and left for dead in a country lane.

The 28-year-old woman was driving her Ford Focus from Great Cornard towards Newton Green at around 8pm on Thursday , when she became aware of a vehicle following her with its lights flashing.

She turned into an isolated lane called Joe's Road at Cornard Tye, and the car followed her while continuing to flash its lights.

The woman swerved her vehicle and stopped, in the lane which is bordered by overhanging hedges.

Both drivers got out of their cars and a row took place, resulting in the man stabbing her in the stomach with a four-inch knife.

The man drove off towards Little Cornard.

The road is so far off the beaten track that Suffolk Police's helicopter later had to guide an ambulance crew to the scene as the woman lay bleeding.

Having alerted the police, the victim was taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital where she underwent a three-hour emergency operation. Doctors today said she is in a stable condition.

Detective inspector Mike Bacon who is overseeing the investigation said: "This was a particularly nasty unprovoked attack on a lone female. The woman is very fortunate to be alive.

"We are appealing for information from anyone who may know the victim's attacker, he was driving an old red hatchback car, described as being smaller than the victim's own Ford Focus.

"He is a white male in his early 40's, 5ft 9in tall, of medium build with a tanned complexion, he was clean shaven with short dark hair. He had a stud in his left ear and wore a dark short sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans."

"We would like to reassure the public that incidents like this are extremely rare."

Calls in relation to this incident should be made to a dedicated phone number at Sudbury CID on 01284 774344 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.