Terror at son’s birthday when party guest attacked us with broken glass
Stacey Wickens, 25, from Eastbourne, feared for her life after her ex became erratic at their son’s birthday party…
Connor Attridge, 26, and I were childhood sweethearts. When I first met him as a teenager, he swept me off my feet.
We went on to have two children together, Connor Jr and Levi.
I hoped that we would be one happy family, but the cracks started to show soon after I fell pregnant.
Connor was paranoid and controlling.
The romance quickly became rocky.
After seven years, I finally found the strength to leave him.
Despite us not getting along, I wanted Connor to be a part of his childrens’ lives.
Whilst we didn’t work out, he could still be a good dad.
So, when Connor Jr’s sixth birthday came around, I invited his dad to the party.
‘When will Daddy be here?’ Connor Jr asked, peering out of the window.
‘Soon!’ I smiled. ‘Let’s open some presents first.’
I had decorated the living room with balloons and gifts, and I wanted to make sure that Connor Jr had the most special sixth birthday to remember.
It had been a tough year for the children with me and Connor splitting up.
It would mean so much to them if we all got on – even if it was just for one party.
But when Connor rocked up, I knew straight away that things weren’t going to go to plan…
‘Daddy!’ Connor Jr squealed up at him.
Instantly, Connor was acting agitated.
‘Hi. Is everything OK?’ I asked him. ‘I don’t want today to get ruined.’
A look of anger flashed across his face.
‘I’m sick of you always being on my case,’ he shouted.
‘I think you need to leave,’ I said, trying to remain calm.
‘No,’ he insisted, angrily. ‘You leave – and take the kids with you!’
I could sense that he was about to kick off, so I did what he told me.
‘Take the boys to your car,’ I said to my sister Sian.
The moment the kids had left the house, their dad lost it.
I tried to walk out of the front door, but Connor put his arm around my throat and dragged me back in.
‘Calm down, please,’ my mum begged.
He didn’t listen to her. Connor began punching me and snarled: ‘I’m going to kill you.’
Out of sheer terror, I managed to break free from his grasp.
‘Call the police!’ I shouted to Mum, as I ran into the living room.
It suddenly went quiet as I tried to work out where he’d gone.
Then he walked towards me, holding a carving knife.
His weapon of choice. ‘Run!’ I said to Mum, worried that he would hurt her.
I leapt forward and managed to wrestle the knife out of his hands, then sprinted out of the front door.
‘Stacey, come in here!’ my nextdoor neighbour Teresa shouted out to me.
She could see I was terrified.
I ushered into her hallway, and just as I was about to shut the door, a pair of hands made their way towards me.
But Connor didn’t just want to hurt me – he was angry at everyone.
‘Get off her!’ I begged, as Connor launched himself at Teresa.
His body fell into the wall and smashed a mirror.
Shards of glass littered the floor. ‘I’m going to kill you,’ he raged, coming back for me.
After seeing him beat Teresa, I was determined to put a stop to it.
I will not let you hurt anyone else, I told myself.
I managed to get him into a headlock and drag him into the kitchen, where we
He said: ‘I’m going to kill you.’
wrestled on the countertop.
A cup of coffee splashed us both, and whilst it was in Connor’s eyes, I managed to wriggle free and dash towards the front door.
But before I left, he shouted my name.
‘Stacey!’ he snarled, picking up the largest shard of mirror he could find and running towards me.
I turned around then quickly flung the front door open and fled to the street.
I was terrified for my life. And every other person that would cross his path.
I raced towards the end of the road, where Sian was waiting in the car with the kids.
‘I will get you,’ Connor panted, behind me.
I jumped into the car and whizzed the boys round to Mum’s house.
They would be safe there with my other sister Shannon.
‘I’m going back to get Mum,’ I said to Shannon. I couldn’t leave her behind. I had to save her. On my street, I saw Connor waving the shard of mirror around whilst looking for me.
‘Mum, get in the car!’ I cried, as I pulled up outside my house.
Only, Connor spotted us before we had a chance to escape.
I thought Mum had made it to the back seat as I started to drove off.
Then I heard an almighty scream, and saw them both in my mirror.
Connor had Mum in headlock in the middle of our road.
I jumped out of the car whilst it was still running.
‘Get off her!’ I shouted. He punched her twice in the head and started repeatedly jabbing her in the stomach.
I felt sick.
What if he killed my mum?
I had visions of her dying outside my house.
I lunged towards the shard of broken mirror as Connor tried to slash my face.
Luckily, my hand deflected it and I tried to pin him down. We tackled to the ground as I heard sirens wailing in the background.
The police! Someone had called them. Three cars pulled up as officers rushed to arrest Connor. Finally, I felt safe. Miraculously, after checking ourselves over, Mum only had surface scratches on her stomach.
‘My puffer jacket saved my life,’ she said, relieved. We hugged as I tried to come to terms with the day.
‘I feel so guilty,’ I sobbed to my mum and sisters. My attempts to give Connor Jr the best sixth birthday party had put everybody else in danger.
I never should have invited him.
It was a mistake. ‘It’s not your fault at all. Don’t feel bad,’ Sian reassured me. Connor had been a nightmare for years, but I never thought he’d do that. Soon after, Connor appeared in court and pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage, threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a public place, and possession of a controlled Class A drug. Connor Attridge, 26, was then sentenced to two years in prison at Lewes Crown Court, East Sussex.
It was definitely what he deserved – but I still felt sadness for our children, who loved him so much. Connor Jr and Levi adored their dad. Still, deep down, I knew that they were both better off without him. Now, I will be the best possible parent to my two boys and give them all the love they need.
I was terrified for my life