Harold Hill stabbing: Jodie Chesney named as 17-year-old girl killed in 'unprovoked' attack in London park

A level student is the fifth teenager to be stabbed to death in London this year

A teenage girl has been stabbed to death in an “unprovoked attack” in a park in east London.

Jodie Chesney, a 17 year-old A level student, was fatally injured on Friday night near St Neot’s Road in Harold Hill, Romford.

Police and paramedics tried to save her life but she was pronounced dead at the scene just over an hour later at 10.26pm.

Jodie was the fifth teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital this year. A total of 24 teenagers were murdered in the capital last year.

Her grandmother Debbie Chesney posted a public appeal on Facebook calling for the violence to stop.

Ms Chesney said: “How have we come to this point where kids can’t have a walk in a park without suffering an unprovoked attack?

“If anyone knows anything about this please contact the police with information. We don’t want anyone else to go through what our family is suffering right now.

“This has to stop, there are too many young people having their lives cut short by needless violence.”

It has been reported that Jodie was sitting on a bench with her boyfriend and their friends when she was stabbed at around 9.25pm.

She is believed to be a student of Havering Sixth Form College and has been pictured visiting 10 Downing Street as a Girl Scout.

The Metropolitan Police launched a murder investigation and appealed for witnesses and information.

“Yesterday a 17-year-old girl lost her life, and I want to express my deepest sympathies to this girl’s family and friends,” said Acting Detective Chief Superintendent John Ross of the East Area Command Unit.

“Her death is a tragedy. I can reassure them and the whole community that we are doing everything possible to identify and bring to justice the person or persons responsible.

“I am urging any witnesses, anyone who saw anything suspicious or anyone with information about the incident to contact police and share what they know.”

He said there had been “some reductions” in knife crime since the middle of 2018 but added: “We are not complacent.

“Bearing down on violent crime on the streets of London is a top priority for the Met, and I am clear that the people of Havering and communities across London have an absolutely vital role to play.

“We need to hear from anyone who has information that could detect or prevent crime. Your information could take a knife off our streets or save a life.”

Locals laid tributes near the park on Saturday (PA)

The stabbing is the latest attack to be reported amid a wave of crime in the capital.

Scotland Yard recorded 134 homicides in London last year, the highest murder rate since 2008. There have been 18 so far this year.

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, said he was “devastated” by the stabbing.

“My thoughts are with her loved ones,” he said on Twitter. ”It fills me with anger that violent criminals are targeting young Londoners with their whole lives before them. I encourage anyone with information to contact the police.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3775, tweet MetCC or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Additional reporting by agencies