Helsby father’s relief as daughter’s attacker is jailed for life

Dec 12 2008 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

A HELSBY dad whose teenage daughter was stabbed more than 20 times in the neck, stomach and chest has spoken out after her attacker was imprisoned for life.

Jessica Knight, 15, was walking home in Chorley, Lancashire, listening to her iPod, when French chef Kristofer Beddar repeatedly stabbed her in a frenzied, unprovoked, attack and left her for dead.

Her father Richard Knight, 42, of Newfield Terrace, Helsby, said: “He’s off the streets at least.

“It was important to us that it was an attempted murder charge not just a wounding with intent which would have been a lesser charge.

“He couldn’t give a reason for attacking her and that’s because there wasn’t one.

“He had a hunting knife, it was vicious, it was meant to do damage. He got angry for a few seconds, lost it, went berserk, and it’s cost him his life. It’s really quite sad. Jess was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Passing cyclist Gareth Crook raised the alarm after he found Jessica bleeding to death in the park.

When the emergency services arrived Jessica was so badly mutilated a policeman had to drive the ambulance to the hospital so more paramedics could help her.

“Gareth is an absolute superstar, he saved her life,” added Richard.

“The second after the attack everything that could have gone in Jess’s favour did, she was lucky in the most unlucky situation.”

It is almost a year since the nightmare attack and the five hours of surgery which helped save Jessica’s life.

Mr Knight said: “Her recovery has been amazing, you could see the change day by day. She was knocked back by a stroke and although her speech is not 100% it is a lot better.

“She was also left paralysed down her left side, she’s better but she has to be reminded to use her left arm.”