A family member of a man who was stabbed in a horrific attack in a Merseyside town centre last year has revealed the mental trauma he has suffered since.
Steven Cartwright was on a family night out in Southport when he was attacked in the early hours of August 23 by 16-year-old Jamal Adam-Neale. The teenager from Toxteth stabbed the dad-of-one and forced him to have life-saving surgery where part of his small bowel was removed.
The former barber revealed the mental anguish that the attack caused as well as the debilitating injuries that led to Steven having 74 staples in his body following the teen plunging a piece of glass into him in his stomach and twice in his back. Now, almost 12 months on from the vicious act of violence, Steven's auntie, Jacky Ridgeway, has opened up on the lasting impact the incident has caused.
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Jacky told the ECHO : "He doesn't like being near big groups. He's getting married in October so that's something for him to look forward to. Before the attack, he was teaching his son football and he can't now.
"He almost died and he's not back to how he was. Some foods he can't eat anymore because of his stomach and he's currently on medication.
"He was having a bad week last week. He does have them. With his bowel, there are certain foods he cants eat as it leaves him with cramps."
Steven said: "[I] still [have] bad anxiety, depression and suffering with panic attacks. [I] won't go anywhere on my own. Feeling good apart from that and looking forward to getting married in October."
The 45-year-old is now raising money for Crimestoppers in her nephew's name, with the cleaner looking to run the London Marathon later this year. Jacky's training is well underway and has already surpassed her goal of raising £1,650.
She said: "Everyone's been fantastic and so supportive. Lots of local businesses have chipped in, people I've never met have donated, I work in a school and I have a large network of people who have helped. I have already got £1,800 for Crimestoppers and I've got enough to do the London Marathon, put it that way."
To read more about the fundraiser and to donate, click here.
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