Mother isNews awarded £1k for ‘bravery’
WOMAN PROTECTED HER SON AS SHE WAS HELD AT KNIFEPOINT BY A SEX ATTACKER
A BRAVE mother who protected her two-year-old son as she was held at knifepoint by a sex attacker has been awarded £1,000 by a judge for her incredible show of courage.
The woman was ambushed and jumped on by a 17-year-old stranger as she walked with her toddler through Stalybridge Country Park.
Although he managed to pin his victim down on the floor and sexually assault her, in a ‘truly exceptional’ show of strength she stayed calm and talked her attacker out of raping her.
Her young child was playing in a nearby stream at the time and witnessed the incident, a court heard.
The teenage attacker eventually got up and ran off.
At Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, in an unusual legal move, Judge John Potter ordered the woman to receive money from public funds as he detained her attacker, now 18, in a mental hospital.
Judge Potter told her: “I take the rare step of commending you publicly for these courageous, brave and truly exceptional acts. As a small token and acknowledgement I shall order £1,000 to be paid to you from the public purse which may in some very small way help you to continue on your difficult and long road to further recovery.”
Following the attack, the woman, in her 20s, broke down at the scene, gathered her son and alerted people nearby.
The 17-year-old was arrested after spending the night in a barn.
As the woman watched from the public gallery in court during the sentencing, Judge Potter told her: “I recall in particular your entirely selfless act in protecting your child at all costs during the attack you were forced to endure.
“I recognise that you have suffered considerable harm as a result of what happened to you. It’s quite clear to me that again, no doubt displaying considerable bravery and courage, you have been able to slowly start to piece your life back together following the trauma.”
He added: “Your bravery, both at the scene and giving evidence, were truly humbling and I hope the words I’ve just uttered allow you some support from this terrible ordeal.”
The broad daylight attack occurred in August last year as the woman was walking near Millbrook Dam.
As she was watching her son splash in some water, the teenager emerged from the undergrowth and attacked her. The court heard the defendant, who the M.E.N. has chosen not to name, had learning difficulties, including autism, and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
He denied three charges of sexual assault, possession of a bladed article and attempted rape - all relating to the attack in Stalybridge Country Park - but was convicted following a trial.