A WOMAN stabbed 11 times in a brutal and random street attack has branded her attacker’s sentence “a joke”- while doctors told her a scarf may have saved her life.

James Thomas, 24, of Kingsway, Westcliff, was jailed for 16 years, with five to be served on licence, after admitting attempted murder.

Now his victim, Alexandra Vignon, 25, has spoken out, slamming the sentence, which could be drastically reduced with good behaviour.

She also revealed doctors told her she was lucky to be wrapped up with her scarf stopping the blade penetrating her neck deeply.

Speaking to the BBC, she said: “That was the first time I had been to Southend, it was for work.

“I am annoyed about it now, I know he had lots of trouble so I think his family should have looked after him beforehand, he needed help.

“The sentence was a joke, he was supposed to get 24, it went down to 21 because of his age, then down to 16 because of his early plea.

“Then English law says you only have to serve two thirds, so ten-and-a-half years, and then less for good behaviour.”

Alexandra was working as a door-to-door marketing salesman at the time of the random attack in St Benet’s Road in November.

She said: “I have 11 stab wounds on the top of my body, some on my face, some on my neck, I could have easily died that day.

“I was working really, and I stopped for a minute and he came from behind and I felt only punches really.

“I managed to turn around, I fell because I lost my balance, because the knife had been stabbed in my neck.

“A car came and he just left, he didn’t want any witnesses so left.

"At first I did not think it was that bad, I have a mentality as a fighter, I will fight for anything, and I saw that knife, so I thought I had to fight.”

Thomas confessed to wanting to kill someone at random, getting a knife and walking around to find a victim before handing himself in.