Kids ‘still don’t feel safe in their town’
Martial arts class mum remains worried after spate of attacks
20.07.2018 A concerned mum- of- three who hosted a self-defence class for girls in the wake of attacks on women says the people of Linwood “still don’t feel safe”.
Sports club owner Gillian Rock organised the martial arts session at her Solid Rock Cheer and Gym after a spate of terrifying incidents shook the area.
Despite teens taking lessons in self-defence, Gillian believes people are still struggling to adjust to life in the shadow of the assaults. Gillian said: “We still don’t feel safe. “Yes, the children have better knowledge of how to defend themselves, but we are all still frightened.
“You start to ask yourself ‘What else can be done?’ “There is a real feeling of hopelessness.” The 35-year-old mum, who has kids aged 11, nine and seven, teaches cheerleading and gymnastics at her gym in Linwood’s Napier Street.
After the sickening string of assaults near the ON-X Sports Centre in her hometown, Gillain rallied together with fellow mum Anne-Marie David to arm Linwood teens with basic safety awareness skills.
She said: “We wanted to give them their confidence back and the feedback has been really good so far.
“It’s great that the girls feel more equipped but it’s still horrible.
“It’s the summer holidays and kids who should be doing things on their own are afraid to go out.”
Gillian said a series of incidents at the Linwood Moss area, close to the sports centre, led to a sense of unease in the town. These include: Around 4pm on April 16 a 52-year-old dog walker was battered by a man in Linwood Moss. The thug struck up a conversation with her before launching an unprovoked attack.
Just five days later, a 14-year-old girl was subjected to a sickening sex attack in the woodland close to the ON-X Sports Centre She became separated from her friends around 9.45pm on Saturday, April 21 and was assaulted and:
Officers swarmed to the area after reports a man had jumped out of bushes in front of another woman dog walker, aged 50, near Moss Road on Wednesday, May 9.
Police stepped up patrols, some involving the mounted branch, but have made no arrests in connection with the attacks.
“My mum and dad have told me they don’t want me out past 9pm anymore,” explained Emma Milligan, 15, who is a member of the Solid Rock Cheer and Gym.
Although she attended the class in May, Emma is no longer comfortable walking in the area alone.
She said: “The class did help me feel more confident but I still don’t want to be out late or on my own.
“We all feel like we have to look over our shoulders all the time.”
Gym members Holly Hayes, 13, and Paige Greene, 16, also went to the class and said the lesson boosted their confidence.
Paige told the Express: “I feel more aware now and I feel like I might be able to handle situations better.
“But with everything going on I still don’t feel safe.”
Holly added: “I still feel worried because of everything that has happened but I do feel more confident and protected because of the class.”
Gillian and the girls all praised the police work in the community and their quick response to subsequent incidents.
“You do see more police cars, a lot more than we’ve ever had,” said Gillian, who has lived in Linwood all her life.
“Their presence does make the children feel safer but on social media you do see people posting about other incidents of people acting odd. People are telling parents to keep their kids indoors. “It’s so sad.” Gillian says there is still more to be done to empower women and young children in Linwood.
She said: “We want to start classes in August for women too and host more regular classes for youngsters.
“We did this for the girls – and we’re going to keep going.”
It’s great that the girls feel more equipped but it’s still horrible Gillian Rock