A WOMAN has told how she thought she would die after a man plunged a four-inch knife into her stomach during a road rage attack on an isolated country road.

A WOMAN has told how she thought she would die after a man plunged a four-inch knife into her stomach during a road rage attack on an isolated country road.

The married 28-year-old said last month's attack has ruined her life and still gives her nightmares.

The woman, who is too scared to be identified, spoke at her Sudbury home yesterday and relived the moment she was forced off the road and left for dead after she was stabbed.

She said: "I just wish the man or anyone protecting him could see what they have done to me. He has absolutely shattered my life. Before I was always going out, I was happy and bubbly and always had a smile on my face, now I am withdrawn, I feel vulnerable all the time and don't go out unless I have to.

"As far as I am concerned the man left me for dead and that is not the action of a sane person. If he done this once there is a possibility he could do it again, I plead with anyone with any information to come forward."

The woman who works as a carer for Ipswich based Classic Care was travelling to her last home visit patient at around 8pm on Thursday, April 3, when the attack happened.

She left an address in Minsmere Way, Great Cornard and went up Sheepshead Hill to go to a final home in Newton Green, when she noticed a small red car behind her flashing its lights.

She turned down Joe's Road in Cornard Tye, but the driver overtook her and forced her silver Ford Focus off the road. Both drivers got out of their cars and the man accused the woman of cutting him-up before he stabbed her.

She said: "Although he was angry he was also calm, he had glaring eyes and smelt strongly of tobacco. He said something about cutting me up and then I thought he punched me before walking away saying something like that will teach you.

"It wasn't until I got back to my car I realised that I had been stabbed. I called 999 on my mobile and waited for help, by this stage I was really frightened and thought I was going to die, I was drifting in and out of consciousness, it felt like hours before anyone arrived, but in fact it was only around four minutes."

She was taken to Colchester General Hospital and had a three-hour operation to remove the knife from her stomach. She was released from hospital a few days later, but it was two weeks before she could leave her home.

She said: "I have returned to work for the first time this week, but it has been very difficult on my own. I had to buy a new car because I couldn't stand going back into my old one, but still I hate being in the car alone and I am very weary of any men I come across now.

She has changed the route of her jobs and tries to avoid isolated roads. When she first got out of hospital she said she was terrified the man would come back for her.

"I feel sad about what has happened, I just can't understand how someone could do this and then just walk away leaving me for dead, I keep going over it again and again in my head, but I suppose I am just lucky to be alive."

Det Insp Mike Bacon of Suffolk police said: "Thanks to well publicised appeals in the media, we have a number of lines of inquiry that we are actively pursuing.

"However, we are still keen to hear from anyone who has information about this incident. No matter how insignificant you think the piece of information that you have might be, please call us and let us judge whether it is of use to this inquiry."

The knifeman drove an old red hatchback car with three doors and bubbly/rusty paintwork over the rear passenger side wheel arch. It made a distinctive rattling noise.

He was white, 5ft 9in tall, of medium build with a tanned complexion and short dark hair. He was clean-shaven and wore a stud in his left ear. He is thought to be aged in his early 40s. At the time of the incident he was wearing a dark coloured, short sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with any information should call the special inquiry line on 01284 774344 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555111.