An outreach volunteer was stabbed in the head and back as she tried to protect four sex workers at a notorious London pick-up spot.
Sophia Burley, 46, is today in hospital after the incident, which ended after her alleged attacker was brought down by a police Taser.
It happened in Ilford Lane, Barking — yards from the spot where pregnant sex worker Mariana Popa, 22, was murdered last October.
Ms Burley, a mother of two, founded the Safe Space Project four years ago to support sex workers and visits women working in the area twice a week. Her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.
Several women who work as prostitutes on the strip outside a shopping parade had returned last night, only 24 hours after Tuesday’s attack.
They said they had been left “frightened” by the incident but had no choice but to continue to work.
The women described Ms Burley as a “good Samaritan”. One woman in her thirties said: “She gives us chocolate, buys us coffee and gives us condoms. If we have a problem with a man she will always check we are okay when she sees us. Sometimes men will be violent or drunk or try not to pay us. She’s very kind and caring.”
Another woman, aged 22, said: “Sophia is a very good woman and a nice person. She looks after us and she likes to help. There were two other women with Sophia at the time. There was an incident with one of the girls and Sophia called the police.”
Ms Burley, a mother of two, set up the Safe Space Project four years ago to support sex workers in Redbridge.
A spokeswoman for Redbridge council said: “We are making contact with outreach workers and local voluntary groups to reiterate safety advice. Police have also increased patrols.”
Robin Kardam, 43 of Madras Road, Ilford has been charged with attempted murder, threatening a person with a bladed article and possession of a bladed article following an assault in Ilford Lane. He was due to appear at Barkingside magistrates’ court today.
