The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
‘I feared the worst as two men pinned me down’
Brave Kelly fought off assailants and warns other women to stay safe
A brave Angus woman who fought off two attackers with karate moves after they pounced as she walked home from a night out has spoken of her certainty she would have been a rape victim had she not broken free.
Illegal immigrants Mohammad Islam and Shebab Smekramuddin are now behind bars awaiting sentence after a jury convicted them of assaulting Kelly Soutar on her way home from a Forfar disco last September.
Despite what was described as “powerful and persuasive evidence” delivered during three-and-a-half hours in the witness box of Dundee Sheriff Court, an allegation that they had intended to rape her was withdrawn from the charge.
Kelly has now courageously spoken out in the hope other women will consider learning the self-defence skills she said automatically kicked in as she lay pinned to the ground by her assailants.
She kicked one of her attackers in the groin and landed a series of blows which allowed her to break free and run to the safety of a friend’s house.
She is convinced her actions prevented the attack from progressing to what she is sure was its real intention.
A karate brown belt, Kelly fell in love with the martial art after going with a pal to a self-defence class a couple of years ago, and is now preparing to represent her Dundee Kanzen Karate club in the World Championships when they come to the city this summer.
She admitted panic set in as the men pounced, but then she found the strength and skills to overcome the pair, who were caught on CCTV loitering near the town centre Royal nightclub shortly before the attack.
“When they got me to the ground that’s when the thought of rape went through my head,” said Kelly.
“They didn’t go for my bag or anything else – they could have just run off with that – and that’s why I thought I was going to be raped.
“To begin with I couldn’t think of anything I had been taught at karate and then it was more a case of muscle memory and my body was acting on its own.
“I managed to kick one of them and then hit out to get free – I don’t know if they chased me because I didn’t look round, I just ran,” she said.
Kelly hopes her story may inspire others to consider self-defence courses.
“As hard as this has been for me, if my story can save one other female from going through this then it will be worth it,” she said.
“I would just say to other women to learn self-defence and to look out for each other when you are out. You have to be sensible . If you are in a group don’t split up, and don’t walk home on your own.
“If this can happen in a small town like Forfar, it can happen anywhere,” Kelly continued.
“It’s been hard for me but I feel I can now start moving on – and concentrate on my World Championships.”
Islam, 28, and Smekramuddin, 48, both of HMP Perth will be sentenced next month.
If this can happen in a small town like Forfar, it can happen anywhere
The bravery of Angus attack victim Kelly Soutar is truly remarkable. Not only did she have the guts to beat off her attackers, but she has now found the courage to come forward and relive the terrifying ordeal in the hope it may save others from a similar fate.
Kelly feared she may be raped when the two men set about her in Forfar last September.
Despite the horror of the situation, her martial arts training kicked in and she was able to make good her escape.
Not everybody is so well equipped to take such actions and no doubt her cowardly attackers got far more than they bargained for.
They probably thought they had picked a vulnerable victim and must have been shocked to be met with such a proficient level of self-defence.
Kelly hopes her experience will be enough to encourage others to protect themselves while out and about. Staying in groups wherever possible is good advice. It is unfortunate that one has to even consider such safeguards but the sad truth is there are unscrupulous and opportunistic criminals ready to strike whenever the chance presents itself.
Awareness is the key and Kelly’s courageous decision to speak out in the wake of her own personal nightmare is to her enormous credit.