A new mum was slashed with a 'zombie' knife by a 'berserk' stranger on her first night out after giving birth.
Lauren Foster was left terrified after 18-year-old Joshua Clow came at her with the 'horrific' weapon and attacked her outside a pub in Northwich last November. She has been left permanently scarred from the attack.
The 23-year-old was first approached by Clow, from Wythenshawe, outside the Revival Bar on the night out with her friends. He asked them where he could get some drugs - but outraged, the girls asked him to leave them alone.
An argument broke out and Clow was led outside the premises by bouncers, where he remained by the front door. Later that night, when Lauren left with her friends, Clow was caught on CCTV running towards her with the ‘zombie knife’ in hand.
He slashed at her several times on the left arm and back. The random attack left the new mum with deep cuts across her back and arm - including a four-inch wound that needed internal and external stitches.
Lauren, a cleaner, from Northwich, said: "It all happened so quickly – I didn’t realise what he was doing until it was too late. This was the first time I had been out since having a baby and then this happened.
"I didn’t know how bad it was until I looked down and I saw the white tissue from inside my arm. I don’t feel as though it was long enough for what I went through.
"He’ll serve around three years, but I’ll have these scars for life."
She added: "I had no idea who he was, and we told him to leave us alone when he first approached us. I tried to ignore him outside but came running over to us.
"The bouncer tried to jump in the way be he wasn’t fast enough. I didn’t really notice the pain – I think my adrenaline kicked in. But I instantly saw the blood and thought the worst."
Police and paramedics arrived at the scene following the incident and Lauren was whisked off to North Staffordshire Hospital. She was left with deep cuts, one of which needed internal and external stitches, and has been left with permanent scarring.
Clow, of Brookcot Road in Manchester, was arrested for the attack. In May, he appeared at Chester Crown Court.
He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, possession of a bladed article and assault. In mitigation, Ryan Rothwell, defending, said he had a 'troubled upbringing' and suffered from mental health problems.
He also said his client 'lacks maturity'. He added that Clow had showed genuine remorse and had told him: "If I could take it back I would. I want the complainant to know how sorry I am."
Clow was sentenced to six years in a young offenders’ institution after the judge said there could have 'easily' been a fatality. Since the attack, Lauren, who gave birth to her 15-month-old son Jaxon in November 2021, said she has been left 'shaken' but has vowed not to let it ruin her life.
She said: "I felt as though the sentence could have been longer. The attack has left me mentally scarred as well as physically.
"I needed help to look after my son because I couldn’t move around properly. But I am determined to not let it stop me living my life. I’ve been out on nights out since and trying to get back to normal."
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