‘I’M NOW SCARED TO WALK AROUND GRIMSBY ON MY OWN’
WOMAN, 24, CLAIMS SHE WAS HARASSED AND FOLLOWED BY DRIVER AFTER CONFRONTING HIM ABOUT HIS SPEED
A YOUNG woman from Grimsby has described her traumatic experience after being harassed and followed by an unknown motorist after she challenged him about his speed.
Ellie Sutton, 24, was walking down Littlefield Lane at lunchtime on Sunday, March 28, when she claims she was shouted at and chased by a male driver.
While crossing the road, Ellie said the blue and white Ford Fiesta being driven by the man came speeding around the corner. She then got the car to stop so she could tell him to slow down in an area where children were walking and playing.
Following a conversation, the driver allegedly then yelled abuse at Ellie, before getting out of his car to follow her on foot as she walked away.
She said: “I was walking across the road when a car came speeding past me so I stopped to tell the man to slow down. He was going incredibly fast in an area where children are.
“He then decided to shout at me calling me a ‘slag’ and a ‘sket’. I decided to walk away whilst he hurled all sorts of abuse at me, but then he got out his car and started to follow me.
“I heard the female passenger shout at him to get back in the car and leave me alone, but he just carried on walking towards me. Eventually, I got away, but I kept hearing him shout these obscenities at me as well as the driver in the car behind him when he returned to his own car.
“The entire event seemed to happen so fast and I was totally shocked at the reaction of the driver.
“I expected him to maybe shout at me, but t not chase me down the street shouting g insults like that at me.
“I just wanted to get away from him as s quickly as I could.”
Following the event, Ellie says she’s no longer comfortable walking around Grimsby on her own.
“There was such a mix of emotions for me e during and after it all happened.
“At first I was confused and shocked, but as he continued shouting and walking towards me I became scared.
“He was really big and quite intimidating g the closer he got to me - it was as if he knew what he was doing.
“When I thought about it after it happened, I just became angry that he felt he could do that to someone.
“I couldn’t believe the audacity of the man to say such things to me.
“I’ve been cat-called before and things like that, but I never been harassed to that extent before.
“After the ordeal, I don’t feel safe in my home town anymore.
“I’ve always remained cautious at night, but now I’m scared during the day too. I get worried whenever I walk alone now.” Ellie has since tried to find the owner of the car to assist Humberside Police, who are investigating.
She said: “I think we need more CCTV in Grimsby. Even if people are caught for their crimes, the lack of CCTV can sometimes stop them from being found guilty.
“It’s especially useful at night time. I know of other incidents that have happened down Littlefield Lane, but nothing can be done because there’s no physical evidence.” A Humberside Police spokesman said: “We are investigating an incident that has been reported to us that happened on March 28. At around 12.30pm a woman, walking on Littlefield Lane in Grimsby, challenged a man driving a blue and white Ford Fiesta about his speed in the area where children were around.
“The driver is reported to have responded to the woman by getting out of his car, verbally abusing her and causing her to feel intimidated and threatened.
“If anyone witnessed this incident or has information that would help us identify the driver please call our non-emergency number 101 quoting reference 16/35157/21.”