Stab victim tells jury ‘I’m not going to let him kill me’

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A Wye accountant has told of the moment she feared she was going to die after being stabbed several times by a burglar at her home.

Courageous Wendy Webster, 73 told a jury at Canterbury Crown Court: “I kept thinking I am not going to let him kill me. I thought I was going to die and I thought ... I am not going to let that happen!”

Despite her wounds she staggered 80 yards from her home in Little Olantigh Road before flagging down a passing car.

Leonidis Mouzakitis, of Stanley Road, Folkestone, has admitted aggravated burglary, stealing a car and wounding with intent but has denied attempted murder.

Prosecutor Simon Connolly told the jury how the 23-yearold had conned his way into the home of the businesswoman last August before producing a knife and grabbing her around the neck.

Ms Webster tried to talk the knifeman into giving himself up to police as they sat at a table at her home where she was recovering from a horse riding accident.

Mouzakitis had been to her home a few weeks earlier claiming he needed help in starting his car – and she thought he may have been a new neighbour.

Mr Connolly said he arrived at her home claiming he was collecting a parcel which had been left in her garden by the postal service.

Mouzakitis then produced a knife after grabbing his victim around the neck and as she put an arm up her finger was cut.

“I was astounded and terrified. He told me: ‘I am sorry, I must have your car. I need your car because I have to get to Bournemouth’.

“All I could do was to try to keep things calm and no aggravation, “she added

Mr Connolly said the burglar claimed his sister had been abducted by a loan shark and demanded Ms Webster’s keys to her BMW.

She told the jury how she then sat down on a chair in the kitchen expecting Mouzakitis to leave.

“He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me and put his rucksack and knife in front of me. His manner was nervous but determined.”

During a discussion, the burglar told her he was “really evil” and claimed to be a tattooist from Ashford before pretending to call the police to give himself up.

Ms Webster went to the front door to see if the police had arrived, moving very slowly because of her horse accident injuries.

“I was then stabbed in the back, “and she showed the jury the stabbing action, before adding: “I was shaken to the core. I was screaming and was bent double because it really hurt,” she added.

She told the jury after receiving more blows she staggered 80 yards along the road to Coldharbour Lane hoping she would be seen by neighbours before col- lapsing on the ground.

She was later taken to hospital and treated for her injuries.

Mouzakitis later fled in the stolen BMW but abandoned it and was arrested.

His barrister Oliver Saxby QC told Ms Webster: “You were subjected to the most horrifying ordeal and there is nothing you have said which I quibble with.

“The only issue for the jury is what was in this young man’s mind at the time.”

The trial continues.

Police at the scene of the burglary