Tiffany Crofts sentenced after stabbing at Westfield Tuggerah

Yelling and armed with a knife, a drug-fuelled woman hunted down another in a Westfield car park and stabbed her in a frenzied attack which left the victim slashed to the bone and begging not to die.

Tiffany Crofts, 24, has been sentenced for stabbing Tammy Ford at Westfield Tuggerah on about 9am on Sunday, February 4, 2024. (Picture: file image)

Yelling and armed with a knife, a drug-fuelled woman hunted down another in a Westfield car park and stabbed her in a frenzied attack which left the victim slashed to the bone and begging not to die.

Tiffany Crofts, 24, was sentenced in Gosford District Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to reckless wounding.

Crofts was with three others in a white Hyundai on February 4, 2024, when one member of the group called the victim, Tammy Ford, via Snapchat and arranged to meet her in the Westfield Tuggerah car park behind the cinemas shortly before 10am.

A member of Crofts’ group got out of the car and went to give Ms Ford a hug; however, Crofts came out from behind two cars and began yelling at the victim.

Crofts then ran towards Ms Ford and lunged at her, striking her multiple times.

Tammy Ford (pictured), 22, was stabbed in the arm and back by Tiffany Crofts, 24, at Westfield Tuggerah on February 4, 2024. Picture: NewsLocal

Ms Ford then felt blood running down her back and arm and saw blood and open skin.

She screamed for help before getting into a vehicle with a friend, saying, “She stabbed me, I need to get to a hospital, I need to call my mum, don’t let me die.”

The Event Cinemas car park at Westfield Tuggerah. Picture: Google

Ms Ford called triple-0 and said, “I’ve been stabbed,” while her friend drove to Wyong Police Station with the victim bleeding in the car.

Police and paramedics responded and provided treatment to the victim, who had two lacerations to the shoulder blade approximately 5cm deep, and a stab wound to the upper left arm with significant blood loss.

After the incident, Crofts got back into the car holding a bloodstained knife, then threw the knife into a body of water along McPherson Rd.

She was later arrested by police at a house in Gosford and told officers she couldn’t remember what had occurred as she was on too many drugs.

Tiffany Crofts, 24, has been sentenced for stabbing Tammy Ford.

The court heard Crofts had a number of mental health issues and a history of substance abuse but had recognised that her behaviour was wrong and was determined to leave her past struggles behind.

The court also heard Crofts had made a firm commitment to sobriety and plans to build a stable and fulfilling life, hoping to volunteer in schools to share her story and help young people stay away from drugs.

During her evidence, Crofts said: “I know I did wrong and I feel guilty every day.”

She also told the court she had lost her whole life because of drugs and was determined not to take drugs again.

Judge Tanya Bright said the court simply could not tolerate this type of violence.

“This offender, for no apparent reason, stabbed the victim three times with a knife; those wounds required hospitalisation.

“I have no doubt that the incident would have been wholly terrifying for her. She was unexpectedly confronted by the offender and stabbed with a knife multiple times.”

Crofts was sentenced to two years and three months jail and will be eligible for parole on May 6 as a result of time already served.