A courageous 73-year-old accountant – who refused to let a brutal knifeman kill her – has won the praise of a judge today.

Despite being stabbed 11 times, Wendy Webster told herself: “I’m not going to let him bloody kill me! I thought I’m going to die, I am not going to let that happen!”

Now a judge has nominated Mrs Webster for a High Sheriff of Kent Award for her bravery.

He said: “Her courage, resourcefulness and determination probably had a great deal to do with the fact that she did not die.

"She was a victim who wouldn't give in and saved herself and she was impressive. Even more so because it was a horrifying attack yet she remained kind, considerate and sympathetic to the defendant.

"She did every thing she could to try to stop him doing what he eventually did do."

Minutes earlier a jury at Canterbury Crown Court found Leonidis Mouzakitis guilty of attempting to murder her.

He will be sentence later in the year after the preparation of probation and psychiatric reports on what dangers he still poses to society.

Judge James O’Mahony told him he could face a life sentence, saying:

“This was an appalling, murderous attack. It was calculated, methodical and vicious.”

The jury had been told that despite her appalling wounds she staggered 80 yards from her home in Little OlantighRoad before flagging down a passing car.

Mouzakitis, of Stanley Road, Folkestone has admitted aggravated burglary, stealing a car and wounding with intent but had denied attempted murder.

Prosecutor Simon Connolly told the jury how the 23 year old had had conned his way into the home of the businesswoman last August before producing a knife and grabbing her around the neck.

Ms Webster tried to talk the knifeman into giving himself up to police as they sat at a table at her home where she was recovering from a horse riding accident.

“I was astounded and terrified. He told me: ‘I am sorry, I must have your car. I need your car because I have to get to Bournemouth’. All I could do was to try to keep things calm and no aggravation" - Ms Webster

Mouzakitis had been to her home a few weeks earlier claiming he needed help in starting his car – and she thought he may have been a new neighbour.

Mr Connolly said he arrived at her home claiming he was collecting a parcel which had been left in her garden by the postal service.

Mouzakitis then produced a knife after grabbing his victim around the neck and as she put an arm up her finger was cut.

“I was astounded and terrified. He told me: ‘I am sorry, I must have your car. I need your car because I have to get to Bournemouth’.

“All I could do was to try to keep things calm and no aggravation," she added.

Mr Connolly said the burglar claimed his sister had been abducted by a loan shark and demanded the keys to Mrs Webster's BMW.

She told the jury how she then sat down on a chair in the kitchen expecting Mouzakitis to leave.

“He pulled up a chair and sat down next to me and put his rucksack and knife in front of me. His manner was nervous but determined.”

During a discussion, the burglar told her he was “really evil” and claimed to be a tattooist from Ashford before pretending to call the police to give himself up.

Mrs Webster went to the front door to see if the police had arrived, moving very slowly because of her horse accident injuries.

Judge O'Mahony praised the police for their "detailed, comprehensive" investigation said senior officers had been "fair to a fault" as well as being dedicated.

He also commended Mr Connolly and defence barrister Oliver Saxby QC for their skill and presentation of the case.

Mouzakitis was arrested on August 23 last year.

He was initially charged with three offences: theft of the victim’s motor vehicle, a BMW X5; aggravated burglary and grievous bodily harm with intent.

Mouzakitis pleaded guilty to these three charges.

The attempt murder charge was added after Kent Police presented evidence on the brutal nature of the assault to the CPS and they agreed a trial could go ahead on this indictment.

He is due to be sentenced later in the year.