Leanne Lucas launches knife campaign to remove sharp tip that almost killed her
Leanne Lucas helped to save children from the attack by shielding them with her own body and rushing them from the building to safety
The Southport teacher who was stabbed as she bravely shielded children from the horrific knife attack has launched a campaign to remove the sharp tip from knives. Leanne Lucas, 36, was leading the Taylor Swift dance class last July when deranged teenager Axel Rudakubana burst in and began stabbing little girls with a kitchen knife.
Leanne 'almost died' after she was stabbed in the neck, back and arms while trying to save children from his attack. As she has launched her new campaign, Let's Be Blunt, Leanne revealed she is still so traumatised she hasn't used a knife since, and has to live with her parents.
Speaking to the Times she said: "Every time I go somewhere, I think: how can I help people if something bad happens? Where's the fire escape? Have I got my phone in my hands so I can call the police? I'm constantly thinking, 'At any moment your life can change. "I didn't realise how afraid I felt in my own kitchen; I haven't cooked since the summer. I think part of that reason is subconsciously I've got a fear.
"I live with my parents at the age of 36 because that's where I feel safe. I'm hypervigilant and always looking for danger. It crosses my mind every minute of the day. It hadn't happened here in Southport before, so that's why I'm trying to get this message out: you don't know the next place it's going to happen."
Her Let's Be Blunt campaign, is calling for the sharp point on kitchen and domestic knives to be removed, adding that knife crime in the UK is 'out of control'. Leanne was inspired to launch the campaign after watching Idris Elba's speak about his knife crime documentary in January, where he also called for blunt tip kitchen knives.
She now wants to see the change adopted and backed by households, manufacturers, retailers and policymakers. Leanne's campaign has been launched to coincides with Knife Crime Awareness Week, which began on Monday and tonight (Weds) she will attend a parliamentary reception.
Leanne added: There is this anger in me: why do I have to say this? Why is it up to survivors to make a difference?" she explained. "Why not the people making the rules [and] enforcing the law? It's almost like if I don't speak, who is going to make the change fast enough?"
Since the attack Leanne revealed she has qualified as a counsellor, but as she fought back tears, added that she doesn't know if she can go back to teaching. "I feel like I can't be a teacher any more just that level of responsibility ... It makes me really sad and I try not to think about it," she said.
"Maybe I can work with children in a different capacity. I never would've thought I'd have so much interest in this area of advocacy and campaigning and, you know, trying to make that difference. "I may be scared walking down the road, but I'm not scared of saying exactly what I think needs to happen next.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Missing British man found dead at the bottom of a lift shaft in Malaysia
A body found at the bottom of a lift shaft in Malaysia is that of a British backpacker who disappeared more than a week ago. Jordan Johnson-Doyle, 25, vanished after last being seen at a bar in Kuala Lumpur on May 27. His family issued an emotional appeal to find him and even flew out to the country to help the police search. But his body was found in a construction site lift shaft in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday, Malaysian authorities confirmed. A post-mortem found the 25-year-old's cause of death as a chest injury sustained from a fall from height. Police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa said no criminal elements were found at the scene. The mystery of Jordan's whereabouts began when his phone went dead on Friday, May 30, during his 18-month backpacking journey across Asia. He had been working for an American company on his travels and arrived in Malaysia on May 17 from Vietnam. The 25-year-old from Stockport had last sent his best friend Owen a photo from inside Healy Mac's Irish Bar in Bangsar on the evening of Tuesday, May 27. It is also believed the software engineer visited The Social, a bar near Healy Macs. Mum Leanne Burnett, 44, checked 'Find My iPhone' tracking service and saw Jordan's phone was in a residential flat nearby the next day. But two days later, his phone went dead, which concerned the family as Jordan regularly checked in with family. Leanne had only just spoken to Jordan on the Monday of that week, when seemed 'fine and normal', she told the Liverpool Echo. With the search for Jordan running dry, Leanne and her husband travelled to Kuala Lumpur to look for their son. Merseyside Police also confirmed their officers were working with local detectives to find the software engineer. Brickfields district police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood confirmed to AFP that Jordan's body was the one found on the construction site. More Trending A FCDO Spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Malaysia and are in contact with the local authorities.' The family previously spoke of their devastation as they tried to find Jordan. Leanne said: 'I have been been feeling just sick, numb. I just want to get over there, find him and bring him home. 'I want him to know we're looking for him and we're coming to get him.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: YouTuber Habibur Masum admits killing wife while she pushed pram in Bradford MORE: Missing woman last seen near Hyde Park three months ago spotted in London pub MORE: Schoolboy attacked teacher like a 'ragdoll' and left her permanently disfigured
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Police will not have to pick and choose which crimes to investigate, says Reeves
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Mark Rowley – the head of the Metropolitan Police – and other senior chiefs, warned cuts to police budgets will have 'far-reaching consequences', according to the Times newspaper. Meanwhile, in a separate letter, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Nicole Jacobs and Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales Baroness Helen Newlove wrote to Sir Keir saying victim support services are being 'pushed to the brink', hit by funding cuts and rising costs. But the Chancellor sought to ease the worries of police leaders. Speaking in Rochdale, Ms Reeves told reporters: 'We will be increasing spending on police in the spending review next week, so that's not a decision… or a choice that I would recognise.' The letter from the police chiefs said negotiations between the Treasury and the Home Office were going 'poorly'. It read: 'A settlement that fails to address our inflation and pay pressures would entail stark choices about which crimes we no longer prioritise.' Last week, senior police officers – including Sir Mark – wrote a letter in the Times calling for 'serious investment' in the spending review, which will set out the Government's day-to-day departmental budgets for the next three years. 'A lack of investment will bake in the structural inefficiencies for another three years and will lose a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform the service,' the letter warned. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley, and other police leaders, have warned against cutting policing budgets (PA) Dame Nicole and Baroness Newlove welcomed Sir Keir's 'personal commitment to halving violence against women and girls within a decade' in their letter, but said they are concerned 'funding cuts and scaled back ambition are leading to piecemeal policies'. They called for a 'clear, well-funded national approach to prevent and respond to abuse, violence, and exploitation of women and girls'. They added: 'With bold and ambitious investment, we can finally tackle the systemic stain of violence and abuse, one that would see us get to grips with misogyny, ensure victims can recover from trauma, and build a criminal justice system that delivers for survivors every single time.' On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander denied some of her Cabinet colleagues are engaged in a row over funding for the police. 'I'm not privy to any of those conversations,' she said, adding there is a 'really collegiate atmosphere around the Cabinet table on the part of every single Cabinet member'. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We are backing the police to protect our communities and keep our streets safe with up to £17.6 billion this year, an increase of up to £1.2 billion. 'This includes £200 million to kickstart putting 13,000 additional neighbourhood police officers, PCSOs and special constables that the public will see back on their streets and patrolling communities, as part of our Plan for Change.'
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Scottish Sun
My face COLLAPSED after botched Turkey teeth op – it's like broken glass smashed in my head & pain worse than childbirth
She flew to Turkey for a dream smile – now her face has caved in OP HORROR My face COLLAPSED after botched Turkey teeth op – it's like broken glass smashed in my head & pain worse than childbirth A MUM says her face collapsed and she was left in the 'worst pain of her life' after a botched dental procedure in Turkey went horribly wrong. Leanne Abeyance, 40, from Telford, Shropshire, flew out for dental implants to replace her 13-year-old veneers — but claims the trip left her disfigured and in constant agony. 11 Leanne Abeyance with daughters Gracie, 14, and Emelie, 11 Credit: Jam Press 11 DJ Leanne had all her teeth pulled, the implants inserted and returned to the UK Credit: Jam Press 11 Leanne Abeyance jetted there to replace her 13-year-old veneers with implantsCredit: Jam Press 11 She initially chose to go abroad because the same work in the UK would have cost £40,000 — whereas the Turkish clinic quoted £8,000Credit: Jam Press 11 Leanne said she began suffering with severe headaches, sinus infections, and noticed her face was starting to change shapeCredit: Jam Press The mum-of-two said she was advised by a Turkish dentist to undergo a sinus lift, bone grafts and have 15 implants fitted — eight on the top and seven on the bottom. DJ Leanne had all her teeth pulled, the implants inserted and returned to the UK, with a plan to go back months later for permanent crowns. But just weeks after the screws were fitted, Leanne said she began suffering with severe headaches, sinus infections, and noticed her face was starting to change shape. 'I'm in the worst pain of my life and I'm in and out of A&E,' said Leanne. 'I can't even touch my face. It feels like broken glass being smashed in my face and smeared around. I've been in a flood of tears." 'My face has collapsed. I'll never have a nice smile. "At the minute, I don't have any teeth in, just screws sticking out. The pain is worse than childbirth.' She initially chose to go abroad because the same work in the UK would have cost £40,000 — whereas the Turkish clinic quoted £8,000. Leanne paid £3,000 upfront and was due to pay the rest after the final fitting. 'When the first lot of injections went in and they started to remove my teeth, I could feel everything,' she said. 'I had about 25 injections in six hours. "The sinus lift felt like they were hammering something up my nose. 'It was like a horror movie that I was fully awake for. "I got picked up and taken back to a nice hotel where fellow customers were there having the same done. "I was on the phone to my friends and family crying my eyes out because I was in so much pain and there on my own. You can't eat because your mouth is so swollen and there are screws sticking out so I was starving.' UK Mum's Dental Nightmare: Turkey Teeth Leave Her in Debt and Pain Leanne left the surgery in May last year happy with her temporary smile, but the pain began before she even got on the flight home. 'In the airport, my face started to hurt so much I was literally buying cups of ice and putting them on my face,' she said. 'My face was black and blue like I'd been in a huge fight. "In the UK, I thought it was all worth it because it was the start of a perfect smile and feeling pretty. Four months later, I'm starting to get bad headaches, toothache where there are no teeth, and sinus problems which I'd never had before.' Despite multiple courses of antibiotics and even an overnight hospital stay on an IV drip, the pain wouldn't go away. A scan at Droitwich Dental Studio in March revealed that two implants had pierced her nasal cavity. 'One implant pierced through my sinuses and the other is in my nose,' she said. 11 A scan at Droitwich Dental Studio in March revealed that two implants had pierced her nasal cavity Credit: Jam Press 11 You can't eat because your mouth is so swollen and there are screws sticking out so I was starving Credit: Jam Press 11 Her dentist says she may need to have all of the implants removed and redone Credit: Jam Press Leanne is now fundraising for private corrective surgery, which she's been told could cost up to £45,000. Her dentist says she may need to have all of the implants removed and redone. 'The pain I'm in is excruciating,' she said. 'It's not as easy as walk in, walk out to the perfect smile like celebrities say. 'There's no such thing as the perfect white smile. I'm not asking for sympathy or anything for free. Now it's a waiting game. My dentist in Droitwich has been great and I'll be using them again in the future. 'I'm ready to have them all cut out and have horrible dentures, but hopefully it will stop the pain I'm in. I can't work, my face swells up, I get bad headaches, nose bleeds, mood swings and my mental health through the roof. 'I've lost two stone in weight and I feel like I'm failing as a mother to my two beautiful daughters. 'I don't want to be seen in public. "My mental health is severely suffering, I can't DJ, I can't be my happy, lively self and can't even do a caravan holiday with the kids. "It's been the worst year of my life. I just want it to be over.' What are the risks of getting surgery abroad? IT'S important to do your research if you're thinking about having cosmetic surgery abroad. It can cost less than in the UK, but you need to weigh up potential savings against the potential risks. Safety standards in different countries may not be as high. No surgery is risk-free. Complications can happen after surgery in the UK or abroad. If you have complications after an operation in the UK, the surgeon is responsible for providing follow-up treatment. Overseas clinics may not provide follow-up treatment, or they may not provide it to the same standard as in the UK. Also, they may not have a healthcare professional in the UK you can visit if you have any problems. Source: NHS 11 Her dentist in Droitwich has been great and I'll be using them again in the future Credit: Jam Press 11 Leanne paid £3,000 upfront and was due to pay the rest after the final fitting Credit: Jam Press
