Littlehampton Somerfield attack life-savers rewarded for bravery

EIGHT members of the public who jumped to the aid of the victim of a violent and frenzied attack in a Littlehampton supermarket are to be commended for their bravery.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jul 2009, 11:53 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:11 BST

Lucy Yates, 20, was stabbed more than 20 times in the neck, face and abdomen by schizophrenic Samuel Reid-Wentworth while she shopped in Somerfield, Anchor Springs, on September 16.

Kirk Ward, a Somerfield security guard, workers Janet Sharrodd and Eric Standing, manager Duncan Todd, shoppers Delores Brown, Alexis Warne and Robert Apps, as well as Ivor Holland, who responded to a Shop Watch call, will be presented with National Police Public Bravery Awards on Tuesday (July 28).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They are credited with saving Lucy's life by dragging her clear, administering first aid, and restraining Reid-Wentworth until police arrived

Reid-Wentworth pleaded guilty to attempted murder in January, and was sent to Broadmoor indefinitely, but now Lucy and her family want to thank those people who helped her.

Speaking after the sentencing, detective chief inspector, Jeff Riley, said: "This was a truly horrific incident and Reid-Wentworth is clearly a very ill and dangerous young man.

"Fortunately Lucy survived this terrible attack and is now on the road to recovery. This process will clearly take a long time but she has a strong and loving family and is looking to the future with her partner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Without the brave intervention of the customers and staff at Somerfield this could have ended far more tragically."

-----------------------------

Click here to return to Gazette news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Gazette's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Gazette: [email protected]