Attempted murder victim Paul Binks has thanked the strangers that saved his life.
After being subjected to a sadistic attack by former friends Jon Hamblin and Jessica Whinham, Mr Binks might not have survived had it not been for the quick-thinking of couple Rex and Harleen Werewolf, who took him in and gave him first aid when he turned up on their doorstep.
And today, after the attackers were jailed for a total of 50 years for their evil actions, Harleen has told of the emotional moment they were reunited.
The 29-year-old said: "We just hugged at first. It was very emotional. To be honest I still can't believe I actually did what I did. We are just thankful he's still alive."
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Mr Binks, had been subjected to a savage and prolonged attack by Whinham and Hamblin while staying with the couple at Whinham's flat in North Shields.
As the pair stood trial, jurors heard how Hamblin turned on him after he fell asleep on the sofa. When he woke up he was on the floor and could see his intestine sticking out. and Hamblin told him he had been stabbed.
Mr Binks said Hamblin then put a phone charger around his neck and tightened it with his foot on his back, to the point he heard it creaking. He said they then put him in the bath and threatened to drown him.
The victim suffered seven separate knife wounds in the attack, which happened in September last year, but he was eventually allowed to leave the flat in the early hours of the morning.
Seriously injured, Mr Binks, then 35, staggered to nearby Spencer Street where he noticed lights on at the Werewolfs' home.
In the days after the attack the couple told how they heard someone banging on the door pleading for help. And after opening the front door Mr Binks fell into their home covered in blood.
Recalling pieces of knowledge from first aid training she had done years ago, Harleen applied pressure to the victim's man's gaping wound with a tea towel as Rex phoned for help.
Around 10 minutes later police arrived and took over from Harleen and Mr Binks was taken to hospital.
Police have since praised the couple for their quick-thinking, which officers said saved the victim's life.
And Rex and Harleen, who have legally changed their surname, were left speechless when Mr Binks turned up out of the blue to thank them.
"It was a bit emotional because he just showed up," said Harleen. "He was with a friend in the area so he just came to our street and knocked on the door. He just came to say 'thanks'. Just seeing him was an emotional moment.
"Rex opened the door and there was no words, he just threw his arms around Rex. Then we sat down and chatted.
"He said he had healed and showed us his scars. He's still very very shaken up by it."
It wasn't until Whinham and Hamblin stood trial that the Werewolfs discovered the full horror of what happened to him.
"It was a shock when I read his interview an him describing what he went through," said Harleen. "I'm still quite shaken when I think talk about it.
"I can still see him sitting on the sofa with the blood on the floor. It's something I don't think you every expect to see. I think I just reacted on instinct."
Hamblin, of Stirling Drive, and Whinham, of Stanley Street West, both North Shields, were convicted of attempted murder after a dramatic trial.
Today Hamblin, 43, was jailed for 29 years, while Whinham, 21, was handed a 21 year jail sentence.
Both were also handed indefinite restraining orders to keep them away from their victim.
And Mr Binks and the Werewolfs now plan to stay in touch.
"We are planning to stay in touch," said Harleen. "We got a thank you card from him family."
Read next:
- As soon as that knife went in there was no bringing her back': Sister of stabbed Jodie Wilkinson pleads for end to violence
- Police search Tynemouth's Park Hotel site after suspected burglars spotted near landmark building
- 'No-one else knows what it's like': Gordon Gault's mum reaches out to mum of stabbed teen Holly Newton
- John Henry Sayers tells of threats to his life after alleged attack as he is sentenced for driving offence
