A woman who survived the trauma of seeing her have-a-go-hero boyfriend stabbed to death is to use her horrific experience to support other victims of crime.

Nadia Mitchell went to Court and gave evidence that helped convict the killer of her boyfriend Mark Webster who died outside an Addingham pub two years ago.

And now she is returning the help she was given by the district's Victim Support Scheme by training as one of its newest volunteers.

Her boyfriend of two-and-half-years was killed trying to restrain knifeman Leroy Griffith, now serving a life sentence, who went on the rampage outside The Fleece pub after an argument with a woman in the car park.

Barbados-born Griffith, who lived in the village, turned on crowds of customers and as others fled screaming, Mark, who had been enjoying a karaoke night out with Nadia, approached the 37-year-old chef in a bid to pacify him but instead, Griffith thrust out with a kitchen knife, stabbing him fatally through the heart.

In court, Nadia, of Silsden, tearfully described how she had seen the struggle and blood come immediately from the wound.

Nadia said Victim Support helped her get through the trauma she suffered from Mark's hideous death and now she wanted to give some support back by helping others going through the same pain and emotional turmoil she felt.

She was also helped by volunteers from the Court Witness Service as the case against Griffith loomed and she had to take to the stand and give evidence against him.

After Mark's death Nadia struggled to get on with life and suffered panic attacks - she even stopped going out - but support from family, friends and Victim Support got her through it. She said she had started going out again and could enjoy herself without feeling guilty.

"After Mark died I wanted living proof that things would get better and even though Victim Support were wonderful there was not anyone there to speak to who had gone through the same as me - and that's what I wanted.

"By becoming a volunteer I want to be that living proof for others who might need it. It's also my way of keeping Mark alive and trying to make something positive come from his death," she said.

To make time for her new voluntary work, Nadia has changed her working hours at a Skipton-based company that co-ordinates police surgeon calls. She said: "I feel so passionately about the work Victim Support does and I hope my story will maybe encourage others to think about volunteering too - especially if they have been victims themselves."

Pat White, who is deputy manager of Victim Support Bradford and District, said she was thrilled Nadia wanted to become a volunteer and help them deal with the 20,000-plus victims they handled every year.

She said: "It does happen from time to time that people we have been a direct help to, come back and want to be a volunteer but Nadia is a remarkable woman. She's been through an awful lot and has managed to come a long way out on the other side."

Next month Nadia will join other volunteers for basic training and supervised case visits before handling cases herself. Victim Support gives practical help and emotional support to victims of crime from handbag snatches to burglaries, rape and killings. Some victims are referred for help by the police, others get in touch themselves and ask for support.

The Bradford scheme is also piloting a new Road Crash Project which sees volunteers offering help to families who have lost loved ones in road traffic accidents.

To find out more about Victim Support or becoming a volunteer, telephone (01274) 530544.