Lea said she was followed by a man she did not know on 25 October 1980.
She started to run away “but before I could do anything I felt a blow to the top of my head and fell to the floor where I was badly attacked by a hammer and a screwdriver”.
She screamed out, which was heard by people nearby, and which “fortunately scared Peter Sutcliffe off otherwise I think he was in for his final blow”.
She regained consciousness in hospital and spent her 21st birthday in intensive care.
Lea recognised Sutcliffe from images on television, but said she did not admit her suspicions for many years.
He never admitted to the attack on Lea, but she was named in redacted parts of the Byford Report which examined the West Yorkshire Police inquiry.
She believes she is lucky to be alive and “I am celebrating that”.
