Attacked in Barbados... but police didn’t care
A BRITISH tourist has told how she was grabbed from behind and almost raped while out jogging in Barbados – only to be met with ‘complete indifference’ from the local police.
Helen Najuk, 27, said she had to fight for her life after being dragged to the ground and kicked and beaten by a stranger just yards from the holiday apartment where she was staying with boyfriend David Pownall.
But when the couple went to the local police station to report the assault, desk officers ‘didn’t even stand up from their seats’ to ask the bruised and bloodied businesswoman if she was all right.
Yesterday Miss Najuk and Mr Pownall, who run a business together, warned the island was far from the ‘safe paradise’ it seems in tourist brochures.
Miss Najuk said: ‘The island is not as peaceful as the authorities might have you believe. I suffered an extremely traumatic ordeal but the police couldn’t have been less caring.’
She said she was so exasperated that she left without filing a statement, sending one via email after she flew back to the UK later that day.
She has had no further contact from the Barbadian authorities – who are yet to make an arrest. Miss Najuk, from Nottingham, was attacked on a quiet road in upmarket Holetown, during a jog at 7.30am on January 29.
She said: ‘I fell to the ground and he started repeatedly kicking me as he tried to pin me down.
‘I had nothing on me of any value and was wearing only running gear, so I believe the motive was sexual.
Then, as he grabbed one of my legs, my screams eventually alerted a neighbour who ran out and chased the attacker away.’
Mr Pownall, 49, said: ‘We feel it is our duty to speak out to try and shame the authorities into action, so that nobody else is attacked like Helen was.’
Police drove Miss Najuk around the area looking for the suspect, but there was no sign of him.
A spokesman for the Royal Barbados Police Force confirmed no arrests had been made.
He added: ‘We are treating this incident very seriously and we have a good idea who may be responsible.
‘When we have more information, we will be in touch.’