A MAN has admitted repeatedly stabbing a young woman as she shopped in a Littlehampton supermarket.
Samuel Reid-Wentworth, 22, of Longford Road, Bognor, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Lucy Yates at Hove Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday, January 27).
Miss Yates, who had moved to Littlehampton from Worthing just days before, was in Somerfield, Anchor Springs, on September 16, when she was stabbed "around 17 times" in an "unprovoked and brutal attack", witnessed by horrified shoppers.
Detective Inspector Jeff Riley, the senior investigating officer on the case, said: "I am extremely pleased for Lucy and her family that they will not have to endure the ordeal of a trial.
"My thoughts are with Lucy and hope that this decision by the defendant will go some way into aiding her recovery.
"Lucy's family were clearly devastated by the assault and were in court today to hear the defendant plead guilty.
"They have asked that their privacy continues to be respected so they can come to terms with this plea and allow it to sink in before any comments are made to the press."
Lucy, who needed specialist hospital treatment following the attack, still experiences some paralysis, and is undergoing physiotherapy.
Police added that she can now walk unaided, but also makes use of a wheelchair.
*For the full story, see this week's Littlehampton Gazette, on sale tomorrow (Thursday, January 29).
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