Saffy
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2007
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Last October (19th) I was at work and my daughter rang to say she was going to walk up to meet me ..
It was light when she set off, but she got waylaid as she met a friend and they had a chat, so by the time she set off from that point, she still had a good 2 miles to walk and it was falling dark.
Unfortunately you can't get a mobile signal along that route so to call me or indeed, to call anyone, would have been pointless .. and as she was more than halfway there she decided to carry on.
She was the victim of an attempted abduction. To cut a long and distressing story short, a man stopped his car and asked her where she was going .. when she said she was going to meet a friend who lived just down the road, he kept insisting she get in the car. After about 10 minutes of this, he drove off.
He then parked further up the road .. she didn't know this .. and crossed the road so that he could come at her and surprise her.He then tried to pull her towards the car .. and when she cried, please, please don't .. he hugged her and said he wouldnt hurt her but to get in the car.
Thank god a woman who goes to the gym where I work (I work in the site shop) was passing with her son in her car. I think the car frightened the man and he went off. The woman then turned the car round and found Hollie with her shoes in her hand, running down the road.
The woman asked Hollie if she was ok and if she wanted a lift. Hollie seeing that there was a boy from her school in the car (the son) agreed to a lift to my work. As they were driving towards my work Hollie saw the man in the car .. he had turned round to come back to/for her.
We called the police - who took a statement and Hollie's coat for forensics.
The following day .. I was too stressed to just sit back and I started to think about who would use that road. It isn't a main road .. and not known unless to local people.
I then went to the gym and asked the manager if he had had anyone of the description Hollie gave who had been at the gym the night before. He said no .. but then I mentioned that the man smelt and it hit a button. (Also the way he spoke - which was quite slowly)
We showed Hollie the picture of the man (not the name .. even I don't know that) and she identified him.
We told the police. Man was arrested and Hollie had to do a video identity parade where she once again picked that man out.
Now .. unfortunately, my meddling has messed all this up and the CPS wont accept the Crown Court case as the defense would say she had just been identifying the photo we first showed her .. which of course, is right .. so the man has been released.
Now .. I went to join the gym today and the manager gave me an odd sort of look .. and now I wonder why.
Apparently the man, who hadn't been to the gym since last October .. went this morning for the first time.
I know I can't really do anything .. but I just feel helpless .. I know that Hollie just wants to forget all about it - and I should be utterly grateful that she wasn't hurt.
I just needed to share.
Thank you for reading.
It was light when she set off, but she got waylaid as she met a friend and they had a chat, so by the time she set off from that point, she still had a good 2 miles to walk and it was falling dark.
Unfortunately you can't get a mobile signal along that route so to call me or indeed, to call anyone, would have been pointless .. and as she was more than halfway there she decided to carry on.
She was the victim of an attempted abduction. To cut a long and distressing story short, a man stopped his car and asked her where she was going .. when she said she was going to meet a friend who lived just down the road, he kept insisting she get in the car. After about 10 minutes of this, he drove off.
He then parked further up the road .. she didn't know this .. and crossed the road so that he could come at her and surprise her.He then tried to pull her towards the car .. and when she cried, please, please don't .. he hugged her and said he wouldnt hurt her but to get in the car.
Thank god a woman who goes to the gym where I work (I work in the site shop) was passing with her son in her car. I think the car frightened the man and he went off. The woman then turned the car round and found Hollie with her shoes in her hand, running down the road.
The woman asked Hollie if she was ok and if she wanted a lift. Hollie seeing that there was a boy from her school in the car (the son) agreed to a lift to my work. As they were driving towards my work Hollie saw the man in the car .. he had turned round to come back to/for her.
We called the police - who took a statement and Hollie's coat for forensics.
The following day .. I was too stressed to just sit back and I started to think about who would use that road. It isn't a main road .. and not known unless to local people.
I then went to the gym and asked the manager if he had had anyone of the description Hollie gave who had been at the gym the night before. He said no .. but then I mentioned that the man smelt and it hit a button. (Also the way he spoke - which was quite slowly)
We showed Hollie the picture of the man (not the name .. even I don't know that) and she identified him.
We told the police. Man was arrested and Hollie had to do a video identity parade where she once again picked that man out.
Now .. unfortunately, my meddling has messed all this up and the CPS wont accept the Crown Court case as the defense would say she had just been identifying the photo we first showed her .. which of course, is right .. so the man has been released.
Now .. I went to join the gym today and the manager gave me an odd sort of look .. and now I wonder why.
Apparently the man, who hadn't been to the gym since last October .. went this morning for the first time.
I know I can't really do anything .. but I just feel helpless .. I know that Hollie just wants to forget all about it - and I should be utterly grateful that she wasn't hurt.
I just needed to share.
Thank you for reading.
