He appeared out of nowhere, masked and hooded and mutilated a woman's face

A woman was scarred for life after she was slashed in the face with a knife at a petrol station. Jamie McClune repeatedly lashed out at his victim with the weapon in an apparent revenge attack after an associate of his had been jailed.

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Thursday, that victim Danielle Cragg had known the 24-year-old, of no fixed address, for "about five or six years as a mutual friend of her ex-partner". However, ill feeling developed after his friend was locked up over an assault upon her.

Paul Wood, prosecuting, described how Ms Cragg was purchasing a drink from a kiosk at the Shell garage on Liverpool Road in Huyton in the early hours of June 14 this year when a 4x4 pulled up on the forecourt. The defendant's sister Georgia McClune was said to have been inside this vehicle, and told her: "We're going to kill you."

The car was subsequently driven off again, but two minutes later the complainant heard a voice saying "come on then, you're dead". Ms Cragg then saw McClune running towards her brandishing a kitchen knife, with which the hooded thug "lunged at her" - aiming blows at her face with the weapon on three separate occasions.

Gasps were heard in the public gallery as CCTV footage of the "clearly planned attack" was played to the court. The defendant fled the scene in the aftermath of the assault, running onto Liverpool Road in the direction of Blue Bell Lane.

Following his arrest, McClune denied being the assailant shown on the video and stated that he was not allowed in the Knowsley area at the time due to his licence conditions. However, he was later picked out as being the culprit during an identity parade.

He has a total of 14 previous convictions for 29 offences - including receiving 22 months for possession of an imitation firearm in 2021, five months for possession of a bladed article in a public place in February 2023 and 26 weeks for aggravated vehicle taking in January this year. Ms Cragg suffered a cut to her right cheek during the incident and appeared in court with a plaster on her face.

Reading a statement from the witness box, the 33-year-old said she had been told that she would be left "permanently scarred" and added: "I am so embarrassed that I still cover this up with a plaster. I feel vulnerable and intimidated by what happened, and I no longer go out on my own.

"I have nightmares of him breaking into my house with a large knife and coming at me. I just cannot comprehend why any man would attack a woman with a knife."

Alaric Walmsley, defending, told the court: "The defendant is supported by his family, his mother and his partner. They recognise how serious this is. There are references to some psychiatric problems. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2018. He is remorseful. They are not simply empty words. This was a case where he pleaded guilty at a very early stage."

McClune admitted wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article in a public place. Appearing in the dock wearing a black Under Armour tracksuit, he nodded as he was imprisoned for six years - of which he must serve at least two thirds behind bars before becoming eligible for release - and was handed an additional four years on licence, as well as a 10-year restraining order.

Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: "You attacked your 33-year-old female victim by repeatedly slashing with your kitchen knife towards her face, causing the wound shown. So she is now a young woman who has a scar permanently in a prominent part of her face.

"You were intoxicated at the time you disguised yourself with a hood and some sort of mask or scarf, showing the underlying planning and targeting of the victim. It was witnessed by innocent bystanders, including a member of staff. Your mental health is poor. You have diagnoses for ADHD and dyslexia, and have had a past diagnosis for schizophrenia."