Littlewood (pictured) stabbed her friend 17 times after they spent an evening drinking
A woman has been jailed for life after tying her best friend to a bed and stabbing her 17 times.
Shaunna Littlewood, 26, attacked Sarah Holden on July 9 last year after they had spent the evening drinking together. She must serve at least seven years.
The pair had been friends for 17 years when Littlewood tied Ms Holden’s wrists and ankles before knifing her neck, face, legs and abdomen.
During the attack, Littlewood said ‘sorry Princess’ before continuing to inflict further wounds.
Simon Waley, prosecuting, said the attack took place at Littlewood’s former home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
After Littlewood tied Ms Holden to the bed and began stabbing her legs Ms Holden managed to free her left hand and tried to stop the attack.
But Littlewood stabbed her neck and body before stopping to ring her sister’s partner to confess as the victim bled internally and her lung collapsed.
He came to the flat and tried to help Ms Holden before calling an ambulance. Littlewood was arrested at the scene.
Mr Waley said Ms Holden suffered internal bleeding close to her heart from a stab wound to her breast. She also suffered neck, jaw and abdominal injuries.
Littlewood was arrested at the scene after she rang a friend to confess knifing Ms Holden in the neck, abdomen, breast and face
Police arrived at the scene to fine Ms Holden was bleeding internally and one of her lungs had collapsed after she was attacked by her best friend
The prosecutor said Ms Holden’s injuries were long-term and she continues to have problems breathing and with her vocal cords.
Littlewood, of King Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, had pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
The court heard Littlewood has previous convictions for attacks against other women, including for battery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Catherine Silverton, defending, said her client had no memory of carrying out the attack and suffers from post traumatic stress disorder which led to a mental health problem known as emotionally unstable personality disorder.
Ms Holden (pictured, left) says she hates looking at her reflection after the brutal attack carried out by Littlewood (pictured, right)
Ms Holden (pictured in hospital after the attack) still has problems speaking clearly after being stabbed in the neck
Miss Silverton said: ‘She has described herself this morning as a monster. She will never drink alcohol again.
‘Even in prison, people think she is silly because she will not even use a knife to cut her food.’
Ms Holden read a victim impact statement to the court, despite her voice being affected by the injuries sustained to her vocal cords. Littlewood, who appeared in the dock wearing a striped blouse, began crying.
Ms Holden said: ‘I trusted Shaunna because she was my best friend. But because of what she has done to me I do not trust anyone, not even my own family.’
She added: ‘I hate looking at myself in the mirror because of the scars.’
Sentencing Littlewood to life imprisonment with a minimum of seven years,
Judge Tom Bayliss QC said: ‘It was a motiveless attack, but had an element of premeditation and persistence.’