A Derry mother has told how she bravely fought off a sex attacker with a stick as she was indecently assaulted in the Lenamore area earlier this week.
The sickening attack occurred in broad daylight around 3.45pm on Wednesday as the woman was followed by a stranger while walking on the Beragh Hill Road.
The 44-year-old Oakbridge Park resident, who doesn't wish to be named, has been left terrif
ied by the incident and appealed to the public to be vigilant as the culprit is still on the loose.
Speaking exclusively to the 'Journal' yesterday, she revealed that the sex attacker had followed her for more than half a mile before pouncing on her and clawing at her chest.
"I heard footsteps behind me and I just knew it wasn't a walker as they sounded like heavy work shoes," she recalled, "I have no idea where he came from because he just seemed to appear from nowhere. When I noticed he was wearing jeans and a padded jacket, I knew for certain he wasn't a walker. Especially when he didn't even try and overtake me or say 'hello' like other walkers would."
The woman, who was becoming increasingly frightened, hoped to summon help at nearby stables but when there was no-one in sight she just kept on walking.
"I'm a good fast walker but he kept up with me the whole time, just a bit behind, for a good ten or fifteen minutes. I kept praying to myself, "Sacred Heart - please don't let anything happen" because the worst thing that can ever happen to a woman is rape. Thank God I always take a stick with me when I'm out walking alone, just in case."
Just as the woman saw houses up ahead in the distance and thought she was almost out of danger, the attacker pounced.
"All of a sudden he came up behind me like lightening, grabbed me around the waist from behind and put his hand down my bra and actually pulled out my breast," she recalled with horror.
"It all seemed to happen in slow motion, but I remember thinking he might have had a knife and that's when I swung at him hard with my stick. I kept swinging until he let go of my waist, then I turned around and battered him with the stick until he ran away. I hit him really hard and it felt like I hurt him - I hope I did."
The woman is convinced that luck was on her side on Wednesday: "I normally wear an IPod when I'm out walking but it must be some kind of blessing that I didn't have mine on me that afternoon - I would never have heard him behind me. Thank God I thought to carry a stick with me too. Most people wouldn't dream of it - but everybody should carry a stick."
"Being attacked is my biggest nightmare. What if my wee girl had been with me or what if he'd followed me home? How dare anyone invade your space like that? I'll never walk that road again.
"I'm a regular fit walker but what if the next victim isn't as fit as me? He is still out there and needs to be caught and caught fast - that's why I wanted to tell people about this so walkers can be on their guard and hopefully this won't happen to anyone else," she added.
The culprit is described by police as being in his late 20's with short black hair. He was wearing a black padded jacket and blue jeans.
Officers are appealing for anyone who was in the Beragh Hill Road area between 3.30pm and 4pm on Wednesday, July 8, and can help with their inquiries to contact them on 0845 600 8000 or the 'Crimestoppers' charity anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.
