A woman who had won awards for her charity work died after being attacked in the street in Newcastle by a gang of up to 11 men, police have said.
Jodie Wilkinson, 27, died in hospital after being stabbed shortly before 3.50pm on Monday afternoon in the Arthur’s Hill area of the city, near the Newcastle United football ground. A 25-year-old man, who was also stabbed in the attack, received treatment in hospital and was later discharged.
Three men – one aged 22 and two aged 25 – were arrested on Monday at a house close to the scene of the attack and, on Tuesday, a further two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested. On Wednesday, a sixth man, aged 43, was arrested and held in custody. Police believe there could have been 10 or 11 men in the group involved in the attack.
Ch Supt David Felton of Northumbria police said Wilkinson was thought to have known her attackers and that it was not a random attack. “Although the motive behind the attack is still being investigated we believe it potentially could have been some kind of dispute and I want to reassure the community that we do not believe there is any risk to the general public,” he said.
Part of Stanhope Street was still cordoned off to allow for a full investigation to be carried out. The weapon used had not been located.
Neighbours left flowers, cards and candles at the scene of the attack, paying tribute to a “loving aunt and sister”. Felton said Wilkinson was “a very popular young girl” who had been well known throughout the city.
Wilkinson, who is thought to have been homeless when she died, got into trouble with the police shortly after leaving school. She battled drink and drug problems in her early 20s and had spent time living on the streets before turning her life around and becoming a well-known volunteer with local charities.
In 2010, Wilkinson was given a young achiever’s award by the Evening Chronicle newspaper in recognition of her work with young people. The same year she was also the recipient of a young person’s achievement award by Children & Young People Now magazine.
Leon Mexter, the chief executive of the charity Youth Focus: North East, where Wilkinson volunteered over a number of years, said she was very open about some of the challenges she had faced in her life, but that she had been determined to turn her life around.
A statement from the charity read: “Jodie continued with our group for several years, and then drifted off to another life, and we lost touch. Whatever happened in Jodie’s life over the past couple of years, her death yesterday was devastating – a young woman who wanted to be a different person and make more of her life. Tragically, she will no longer have that opportunity.”
“What was the thing that led to her being on that street on Monday?” asked Mexter. “It’s a tragedy. When she was with us her absolute driving force was to change her life, and then for this to happen – it’s an appalling full-stop, isn’t it? There’s no chance now for her to realise that things have got bad and that she wants to change again. That is now denied to her and her family and friends.”
In a 2010 report by the charity Wilkinson wrote that her picture had been printed in local papers when she was 14 because she was in trouble with the police. “I have [now] had my photo in several newspapers recently for all the positive things that I have done, and my gran even has a framed press cutting of me on her wall,” she wrote.
“I feel proud that I am being recognised for the positive stuff that I am doing, and I hope that I can be a role model for other young people.”
Northumbria police issued an appeal for witnesses of the attack on Monday afternoon and the independent charity Crimestoppers offered a cash reward of up to £1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charge of those responsible.
“The attack happened in Stanhope Street and we know it was fairly busy at the time. It was 3.50pm and schools had not long finished and people were walking, driving and cycling in the area,” said Felton.
“There will be lots of people who were there or who were passing through and who might have seen something. We really need these people, or anybody who thinks they can help us, to speak to us straight away. Any tiny piece of information could be key so please don’t hesitate in contacting us.
“The incident itself would have looked like a group of people fighting, like an altercation of some kind, and there would have been shouting and fighting. People would have then seen the group flee the scene, we believe, in the direction of Queens Court. If anyone saw anything suspicious in the area then please come forward and speak to officers or ring us on 101.”
Wilkinson’s sister, Amy, said: “She would do anything for anyone and we’ve got no idea why someone would take her life. All we ask is at this stage anyone with any information, no matter how small, to please come forward and assist the police.”
Speaking to the Chronicle in 2011 after the coalition government announced plans to scrap antisocial behaviour orders, Wilkinson said that getting an Asbo had encouraged her to change her ways. “I certainly wasn’t proud about having an Asbo,” she wrote.
“In fact, it made me realise how my behaviour had negatively impacted on other people. It was just the shock I needed to turn my life around. I didn’t want to be known as the girl with the Asbo. I have heard that some people frame their Asbos and put them on their wall like a certificate. I feel sorry for those people – why be proud of causing stress to other people?”
