Knife held against Abigail's son

Police said Mrs Witchalls' bravery was extraordinary

Abigail Witchalls' attacker first grabbed her 21-month-old son and held a knife to his neck, she has told police.

The 26-year-old mother, attacked in Little Bookham, Surrey, first saw the man in a blue four-door estate car.

She tried to run home, but turned back when the man seized Joseph. He then pushed her to the ground and stabbed her once in the back of the neck.

Mrs Witchalls was left paralysed but she has told police what happened using blinks and other signals.

The attacker appeared to have made no attempt to rob her.

Surrey Police said an appeal on Tuesday morning had prompted more than 90 calls from members of the public.

Officer said Mrs Witchalls had been through a "more harrowing experience than they had ever imagined".

They paid tribute to her bravery, strength, and intelligence.

Click for an aerial image of the last part of Abigail's route. Enlarge Image

They said she was determined to catch her attacker and had insisted on being interviewed for six hours on Monday.

Det Supt Adrian Harper said police had confirmed enough information directly from her that they no longer had to rely on second-hand evidence from witnesses and residents in the village.

He said her statement had "changed the focus of the inquiry".

A man previously arrested and released on bail had been ruled out as a suspect, he said.

Mrs Witchalls told officers she first saw the man at 1545 BST on 20 April as she walked along a public footpath.

She said the vehicle drove towards her and past her and that she and the driver looked at each other.

Mr Harper said: "At that point Abigail started to feel uneasy. She started to walk home.

"About three-quarters of the way along the track, she turned and saw the same car had pulled up behind her."

Anyone who is prepared to threaten a young child and then try to kill their mother is capable of anything Det Supt Adrian Harper

He said the man had got out of the car and was coming towards her.

"She started to panic," he said.

"She began running along the footpath with Joseph still in his buggy."

Abigail said she reached a gate and as she struggled to open it, she heard the man tell her she had dropped her purse.

"She turned around and saw the man had taken hold of Joseph and was holding the knife to his throat," he said.

"He called to Abigail to come towards him.

"He then grabbed hold of her, held her forcefully down to the ground.

"As he did so he stabbed her once in the back of the neck with the knife.

"He then pushed the buggy on top of Abigail and ran off."

Police said the man was aged between 20 to 35-years-old and was someone she did not know.

He had short, dark, wavy hair and was pale with a long, thin face and wore looped silver earrings.

Abigail told police she believed the man was under the influence of drink or drugs.

Mr Harper said: "He is an extremely dangerous offender.

"Anyone who is prepared to threaten a young child and then try to kill their mother is capable of anything."

Police said that Abigail's condition was continuing to improve and she had sent a personal message thanking people for their prayers and support.

Anyone who thinks they might know the attacker is asked not to approach him, and instead to contact police immediately.