Hundreds of calls received in Abigail case

Police have confirmed that over 300 calls have been received with information regarding the stabbing of Abigail Witchalls last week, following a fresh appeal launched yesterday.

Mrs Witchalls, 26, who remains in St Georges Hospital in south London following the attack, spent two days this week helping police build a description of her attacker.

The part-time English teacher, who is pregnant with her second child, was stabbed in the neck by her attacker and left paralysed. However, her condition is beginning to improve and, although she still cannot speak, she was able to communicate with police officers by mouthing words or blinking.

Abigail told police that she spotted her attacker driving past her in a blue car, as she walked along with her 21-month-old son Joseph, in Little Bookham, Surrey. As she started to walk along a track towards her home, she noticed that the man had got out of his car and was following her.

Abigail started to panic and ran, but was unable to open the gate at the end of the lane. When she turned around, she told police she saw the man holding a knife to Joseph’s throat and indicated for her to come towards him.

The attacker then grabbed her hair, pulled her towards the ground and stabbed her once in the back of the neck, before pushing the buggy, with Joseph still in it, on top of her and running from the scene.

Abigail described the attacker as being between 5ft 10in and 6ft 4in tall and aged between 20-35, with short, dark wavy or scruffy hair, a long thin face and prominent cheekbones. She also said that he was wearing looped silver earrings in both ears, had quite a deep voice and bags under his eyes.

The man did not appear to make any attempt to rob Abigail – her purse and mobile phone were not taken.

Police have described Abigail’s attacker as “an extremely dangerous offender”.

Police confirmed that they would not be speaking with Abigail today, but would be continuing to work on the information they have received.

(KMcA/MB)