A 14-year-old schoolgirl was threatened by a man who verbally abused her before running a knife along her legs and stabbing her school bag.

The girl was walking to school in Offham Road, West Malling, when she was approached by the drunk-looking man.

When the girl tried to get away, the man moved in front of her and ran the knife up her legs, before stabbing the bag and walking away. When she turned round, he was no longer in sight and it is thought he made off down the nearby alleyway.

The girl’s mother, who lives in West Malling but asked not to be named, spoke of how her daughter, who, although unharmed, was petrified by the ordeal.

“You just don’t expect something like this to happen at this time of the morning,” she said. “He didn’t ask for money or anything, but stabbed her bag before going away. She was absolutely terrified. I’m relieved she is alive, when you think, anything could have happened.”

She added that her daughter would no longer walk to school alone. “She makes sure she always goes with someone now,” she said.

The victim was able to give police a description of her attacker. He is white, aged between 40 and 50, of large build, and was wearing a black Nike hooded top with the hood up, jeans and big black boots.

Anyone with information about the assault, between 7.30 and 8am on Thursday, October 5, is asked to contact Kent police on 01622 604180 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.