A man who repeatedly stabbed a girl and left her for dead in a Lancashire park has been jailed for life.
Jessica Knight, then 14, was listening to her MP3 player when French national Kristofer Beddar, 21, knifed her about 20 times.
She underwent five hours of emergency surgery after passers-by found her in the park in Astley Village, Chorley.
Beddar was found guilty of attempted murder at Preston Crown Court and told he would serve a minimum of 12 years.
He had admitted wounding with intent, but claimed he had no memory of attacking Jessica and no motive to kill her.
Beddar, of Daisy Hill Drive, Adlington, was described in court as a loner with a fiery temper who had downed half a bottle of whisky before the attack.
Frenzied attack
He later confessed to his mother Marion, saying: "Mum, I think it must have been me." She turned him in to the police.
Beddar was living with members of his English family at the time of the attack.
Judge Anthony Russell QC, Recorder of Preston, said: "This was a frenzied attack with a knife that you habitually carried."
Mr Russell said Beddar had ruined the lives of Jessica, her family and his own mother - who had to give evidence against him during the trial.
"Your intention was to kill her, no one knows why. There is no evidence of any mental illness which could explain it," the judge said.
"Anyone who can do what you did must be regarded as a danger to the public."
Jessica, now 15, was walking through the park to meet a friend when the stabbing happened.
She was knifed in the chest, neck, stomach and back and has been left with "long-term physical and psychological problems", the court heard.
Speaking after the hearing, Det Supt Steve Brunskill, who led the Lancashire Police investigation, said he initially thought Jessica would die following the "terrible attack".
He said: "When I was called to that scene that evening I believed that I would be leading a murder investigation."
Overwhelming support
The detective praised the actions of cyclist Gareth Crook, who found Jessica; Pc Andrew Sumner, one of the first officers on the scene; and medical staff for keeping her alive.
"It is not often I get to meet the victims of such horrific crimes but thankfully in this case I have been able to do so," he added.
"Jess is a lovely, giggly young girl, with great determination which must have been an influencing factor in her survival."
In a statement, Jessica's parents - Jill Walmsley and Richard Knight - said they felt blessed their daughter had survived such a vicious attack.
They said justice had been served and thanked Beddar's mother, Marion for handing her son into police.
"She had an agonising decision to make, but she made the right one when she brought her son forward and for that we are incredibly grateful," said the couple.
"Kristofer Beddar's actions not only affected our family and friends, but a whole community and the support we have had has been overwhelming.
"Jessica is a typical teenager - she is stubborn, determined and giggly. Her sheer determination to survive and the immense bravery she has shown throughout her ordeal has been an inspiration to us all."
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