Jodie Chesney death: Teenage girl 'stabbed in the back by man who said nothing’

Stab victim: Jodie Chesney outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform in November last year
Olivia Tobin5 March 2019
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Jodie Chesney was stabbed in the back by an unknown man who “said nothing” to her as he walked away, police said.

Officers have released further details about the night the 17-year-old was attacked in an east London park.

Police said the Ms Chesney was sat with five other teenagers playing music in a park close to St Neot’s Road, in Harold Hill, before they were approached by two unknown males.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Jodie’s group were aware of two males in the park who left at around 9pm without interacting with Jodie or her friends.

“Around 30 minutes later the pair returned to the park and walked straight towards the group, where one of the males stabbed Jodie once in the back.

“Nothing was said by the two suspects, who ran off in the direction of Retford Road.

“The suspect who attacked Jodie is described as a black male aged in his late teens. There is no further description of him at this stage, nor is there any description of the other male.”

Ms Chesney was pronounced dead at 10.25pm on Friday. Police confirmed the cause of death as trauma and haemorrhage.

No arrests have been made, with police appealing to the public for any information.

Jodie Chesney was attacked and stabbed in a park in Harold's Hill on Friday night

The detective leading the investigation, DCI Dave Whellams, said: “I am appealing for any witnesses who have yet to speak with police to call me.

“There has been excellent support from the local community and a number of people have shared information with police, but there will be other witnesses and people with information that may prove crucial.

“Although the description of the suspect is limited, I am certain that people will have seen the two males hanging around the park or running away from the scene - or will otherwise have noticed something suspicious. I need those people to call me.”

The schoolgirl has been described as “lovely”.

In a statement to ITV News, her uncle Dave Chesney said: “We are all devastated.”

He added: "This was a totally random and unprovoked attack on a beautiful, lovely and quirky young girl with her whole life in front of her."

Ms Chesney was a keen Explorer Scout who appeared on the BBC at the Festival of Remembrance months before her death.

The teen had been filmed standing side-by-side her fellow scouts at the Royal Albert Hall for the commemoration in November 2018.

Jodie shared a clip of the moment on Instagram, writing: “I’m basically famous now, this was such a good opportunity and so much fun.” She included the hashtags #festivalofremembrance #scouts #girlguides #10downingstreet".

She also shared a photo of herself outside 10 Downing Street in her scouts uniform.

Police stressed there will be additional police patrols in and around the Harold Hill area in the coming days.

Anyone with information should call the HMCC Incident Room on 020 8345 3775, Tweet @MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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