A young woman says she fought for her life after a sex attacker pushed her to the ground as she walked her dog.
The woman, who is in her 20s, was walking her eight-year-old dog across a field in North Yorkshire late at night. It happened along a footpath off Monkton Road at some time between 12am and 1.21am today (Wednesday 8 January 2025).
The woman has described how she was singing along to music playing through her headphones while walking to her destination when she was suddenly attacked from behind and pushed to the ground by a man. He climbed on top of her and started to punch her while pinning her down.
In a terrifying moment, the young woman says she saw her life flash before her eyes and feared she would be killed. She said: “He had pushed me down to the ground. I had hit my head which has now a lump on. He then punched me in the eye and jaw.”
In a fight or flight state of mind, she was able to rely on survival techniques taught by her family to fight back in an attack.
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“I managed to dig my nails into his skin and hit him somewhere twice but not sure where. I think it might have been in the chest as he was in some pain,” she said.
“I knew that I had to get DNA so it would help police find him quicker – and I am quite glad my family gave me this piece of advice. I didn’t know what was going to happen or if he had a weapon. It was terrifying and I thought I was going to die. I didn’t know what his intentions were.”
She was able to fight him off and run back to her flat where she called North Yorkshire Police. Officers came immediately and were able to take swabs of her nails which had the man’s DNA on.
She says she has the support of family and friends who are helping her through the ordeal – but not everyone has been as supportive. She said: “The support from family and friends has been amazing but sadly I have had one person ask why I was out that time of night and I don’t think it is right that a woman should be scared of going out at any time.
“The person at fault was the person who attacked and touched me. I hope he is caught soon so that no one else can be hurt.”
Police say an extensive area search was carried out and “detailed enquiries” are ongoing in the effort to locate the suspect, who is described as white man with a medium build, who was wearing a tracksuit.
A spokesman said: “Anyone who believes they may know this man or have any information that could assist the investigation, please contact us without delay.
“We are also urging residents in the local area to check their CCTV and doorbell cameras for any footage of people walking about between midnight and 1.21am today. The victim is being supported by specially trained police officers while the investigation continues. Patrols have been stepped up in the area to provide community reassurance.”
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