A 15-year-old girl who was saved by a Westlife programme when she was stabbed has been given a lift by members of the Irish band who are sending her memorablia following her ordeal.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and a woman, 20, had been to a Westlife concert at the O2 arena in London on May 12, and arrived back in Norwich at about 2.20am on May 13.

She was followed by Stephen Williams, 33, of Mousehold Street, Norwich, who demanded her bag and stabbed her five or six times. The teenager, who was cut on the chest, abdomen and wrist, was spared more serious injury after the knife plunged into a Westlife tour programme she had taken home from the concert.

The Norwich Evening News contacted Sony Music, one of the band's labels, who through Bravado International Group, have organised for a goody bag, containing band merchandise, to be sent to the girl.

Detective Constable Graham Finney, officer in the case, said he was delighted with the gesture which he thinks will help the victim as she tries to move on from the ordeal.

He said: 'It's amazing, it's great. Taking the trouble to do that is brilliant. I think it's very important she's given something that's positive. I know she was really excited about seeing them and had a good time.

'I think she was really upset the programme was damaged and it was associated in her mind with this violent thing. I know how much this will mean to her.'

Williams was sentenced to seven years and four months in prison with an extension of three years to the period he must remain on licence.

Sentencing him, Recorder Alexander Milne, QC, referred to the offence as the 'top category of street robbery' and said, in terms of the teenage victim, the 'fact that no major organ, artery or tendon were damaged was a matter purely of good luck, nothing more than that'.

Have you a crime story for the Norwich Evening News? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk