POLICE chiefs still harbour fears about the teenager who inflicted such terrible injuries on her friend.

Senior officers who investigated the stabbing were faced with an horrific crime scene following the vicious knife attack.

And the senior investigating officer in the case, Det Chief Insp Dave Law, based at Astley Bridge police station, has voiced the worries he has about Nicola Faughey.

DCI Law, who led the police manhunt, said: "I have grave concerns about this girl on three counts.

"Firstly that a 16-year-old could possess such venom that she could carry out such a frenzied and sustained attack on someone she previously regarded as a close friend.

"Secondly about how scheming and calculating she had acted in trying to avoid detection. She had proved to be a very convincing liar when telling her story initially to the police and other people.

"And finally that she had been prepared to frame innocent people, by implicating them in the crime."

And DCI Law praised the assistance from local people as the hunt for Joanne's Valentine's Day killer began, saving extra praise for the dead woman's family.

He added: "I would like to thank the people in Farnworth who helped us in this case.

"Also I would particularly like to pay tribute to Joanne's immediate family and friends who assisted us greatly and who demonstrated such strength and courage throughout their ordeal."