Monica Thomas and her daughter Kaya Princess at Gillians Park
A heavily pregnant mum charged an attacker with her pushchair and house keys after being chased across an Oxford park.
Monica Thomas, 20, who is seven months pregnant, was followed by a man while walking with her two-year-old daughter and a pushchair in Blackbird Leys in the early hours of Sunday.
Miss Thomas was followed from Field Avenue and when she reached the end of Bulrush Road, at the entrance to Gillians Park, the man began hurling abuse and broke into a sprint.
Pushing the pram, Miss Thomas raced across the park before realising he was about to catch up with her.
She stopped and turned around to confront her attacker.
She brandished her keys and the bulk of the pushchair to defend herself but the man jumped into a brook and armed himself with a piece of wood.
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Miss Thomas, of Mercury Road, fled a second time and called police on her mobile phone.
She managed to get to a neighbour's door in Greenfinch Close.
When police arrived they searched the park with torches but the man had gone.
Miss Thomas said: "If I hadn't turned around I don't know what would have happened to me because he was right behind me and would have grabbed me.
"I thought I should try and defend myself so used the buggy and keys because they were the only thing I had.
"When I saw him banging a piece of wood I realised he was looking for something to hit me with and decided it was rather dangerous. I'm pregnant and with a pram so I couldn't run very fast.
"I was on the phone to the police running for my life and they were telling me to hold on. But I was so scared."
Miss Thomas had walked from Greenfinch Close across Gillians Park to Field Avenue shortly after 2am to make sure her teenage sister's friend got safely on a bus.
The man is described as in his early 30s, slim and muscular with mousey brown hair, and was wearing dark jeans and a blue T-shirt.
Miss Thomas added: "I believe he was trying to rape me. The stuff he was shouting that he was going to do to me was disgusting.
"Whoever this man is he's still out there. I don't know where he came from or if he is from Blackbird Leys or not. It was so scary. I've lived here all my life but I won't walk across Gillians Park again at night."
Police spokesman Claire Gourlay said four police officers searched the area but found no sign of the man.
They are not linking it with any other incidents, she added.
Anyone with information should call police on 08458 505505 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Posted by: Mike, East Oxford on 5:53pm Tue 13 May 08
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone?
where is the common sense in that?
Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus?
Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid.
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone?
where is the common sense in that?
Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus?
Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid.
Posted by: ricky, the sleeze on 6:48pm Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]Mike[/bold] wrote:
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone? where is the common sense in that? Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus? Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid.[/quote] should be sleepin!!baby 2am,come on mum?open to the warped,demented,peve
rts,rapists...should be able to walk the streets anytime?sad england!!
Mike wrote:
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone? where is the common sense in that? Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus? Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid.
should be sleepin!!baby 2am,come on mum?open to the warped,demented,peve
rts,rapists...should be able to walk the streets anytime?sad england!!
[quote]"I thought I should try and defend myself so used the buggy and keys because they were the only thing I had." [/quote]
Did the buggy have the child still in? did the child like being charged at an attacker? Almost as bad as those considerate parents who 'test' the road is clear with their buggies before crossing!
"I thought I should try and defend myself so used the buggy and keys because they were the only thing I had."
Did the buggy have the child still in? did the child like being charged at an attacker? Almost as bad as those considerate parents who 'test' the road is clear with their buggies before crossing!
Posted by: yvonnie, blackbird leys on 7:58pm Tue 13 May 08
stupid lady if you had a problem with your boyfriend and you start walking that time what do you expect you ****[bold]bold[/bold] [bold]bold[/bold] [italic]italic[/italic] [italic]italic[/italic] [bold]bold[/bold]
stupid lady if you had a problem with your boyfriend and you start walking that time what do you expect you ****
yvonnie, where in this story does it say she had a problem with a boyfriend, I think it was probably a case of bad judgement being out at that time of night especially with a child, but READ the story you she was making sure her sisters friend got safely on the bus
you silly ****
yvonnie, where in this story does it say she had a problem with a boyfriend, I think it was probably a case of bad judgement being out at that time of night especially with a child, but READ the story you she was making sure her sisters friend got safely on the bus
you silly ****
it does not matter what time she was out, the criminal is not her, it is the low life loser who was trying to attack her. he is the guilty one, not her. sanctimonious armchair.......... people!
it does not matter what time she was out, the criminal is not her, it is the low life loser who was trying to attack her. he is the guilty one, not her. sanctimonious armchair.......... people!
The people that are attacking this girl for walking home are the scum of the earth, just as much as the guy that tried to chase this poor woman. You should hang your heads in shame and hope that this kind of thing never happens to you.
The people that are attacking this girl for walking home are the scum of the earth, just as much as the guy that tried to chase this poor woman. You should hang your heads in shame and hope that this kind of thing never happens to you.
Posted by: Karen, Abingdon on 7:20am Wed 14 May 08
Silly Woman.They should have both been in bed especially the little girl in the pushchair.The woman could have called the friend on her mobile to see if she got the bus ok??If I was the other person catching the bus at that time of night I would have gone home by taxi.I WOULDNT have walked through a park at that time of night!!!
Silly Woman.They should have both been in bed especially the little girl in the pushchair.The woman could have called the friend on her mobile to see if she got the bus ok??If I was the other person catching the bus at that time of night I would have gone home by taxi.I WOULDNT have walked through a park at that time of night!!!
Posted by: James Dore, Oxford on 9:09am Wed 14 May 08
Of course it's totally unheard of for toddlers and babies to wake during the night, isn't it? They all sleep like lambs for twelve hours as soon as they pop out, so we can all arrange our schedules properly.
That's called sarcasm, by the way, for those of limited understanding. Get off your self-righteous high-horses you sanctimonious prats, and leave the poor lass alone.
Of course it's totally unheard of for toddlers and babies to wake during the night, isn't it? They all sleep like lambs for twelve hours as soon as they pop out, so we can all arrange our schedules properly.
That's called sarcasm, by the way, for those of limited understanding. Get off your self-righteous high-horses you sanctimonious prats, and leave the poor lass alone.
You lot criticising Monica for taking her daughter through the park at this time should be ashamed of yourselves. What if she hadn't walked the young girl to the bus stop? Would we be reading a rape case now of the teenager who was lucky enough to have Monica walk her through the park?
The reason that it's unsafe to walk through places like this at 2am is becasue you guys sit on your **** giving advice on how unsafe it is, get out there & stand up for yourselves like Monica & maybe these bast@rds won't get away with it all the time. Maybe we should stop flying & never visit London becasue of terrorists? Should we all just stay indoors & only come out in daylight & leave the weirdoes to do their thing? You have all taken the crims side as if it's unacceptable to take your kid out at this time, so is it acceptable for these fkin weirdoes to be out there in the first place?
FAIR PLAY MONICA, WE NEED MORE BRAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU & LESS ARMCHAIR PUSS1ES LIKE MOST OF THE COMMENTERS ABOVE
You lot criticising Monica for taking her daughter through the park at this time should be ashamed of yourselves. What if she hadn't walked the young girl to the bus stop? Would we be reading a rape case now of the teenager who was lucky enough to have Monica walk her through the park?
The reason that it's unsafe to walk through places like this at 2am is becasue you guys sit on your **** giving advice on how unsafe it is, get out there & stand up for yourselves like Monica & maybe these bast@rds won't get away with it all the time. Maybe we should stop flying & never visit London becasue of terrorists? Should we all just stay indoors & only come out in daylight & leave the weirdoes to do their thing? You have all taken the crims side as if it's unacceptable to take your kid out at this time, so is it acceptable for these fkin weirdoes to be out there in the first place?
FAIR PLAY MONICA, WE NEED MORE BRAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU & LESS ARMCHAIR PUSS1ES LIKE MOST OF THE COMMENTERS ABOVE
It's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other here. It's sad that this poor girl had to escort someone to a bus because you can't trust other people to just be taking a walk at that time of night. Yes, she was naive to think she'd be safe on her own at that time of night but why shouldn't she be safe? What has happened to everyone in this world - everyone expects the worst when they're out in the dark so the morons who have no social skills live up to the expectations. I'm only 40 but I reckon they should bring back national service and instill some discipline in the thick idiots who think it's normal to terrorise innocent people.
It's 6 of one and half a dozen of the other here. It's sad that this poor girl had to escort someone to a bus because you can't trust other people to just be taking a walk at that time of night. Yes, she was naive to think she'd be safe on her own at that time of night but why shouldn't she be safe? What has happened to everyone in this world - everyone expects the worst when they're out in the dark so the morons who have no social skills live up to the expectations. I'm only 40 but I reckon they should bring back national service and instill some discipline in the thick idiots who think it's normal to terrorise innocent people.
[quote][bold]Mike[/bold] wrote:
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone? where is the common sense in that? Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus? Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid. [/quote] I agree with this comment. 100%. Even in the day time that suburb is dangerous. I never feel safe in that neighbourhood.
Mike wrote:
Foolish woman. 0200 in BLL with a buggy alone? where is the common sense in that? Perhaps request assistance from a male neighbour to guide her and companion to the bus? Silly lady. Sorry! It is this environment we live in. Be afraid, very afraid.
I agree with this comment. 100%. Even in the day time that suburb is dangerous. I never feel safe in that neighbourhood.
Posted by: Jasmine McPherson (Vitims sister), oxford on 6:19pm Wed 14 May 08
[bold]bold[/bold] Sorry but this is my sister you lot who are calling her foolish,who are fast to critize. I think that you are out of order y ou dont know the rest of her life style. Who are you really. Imagine your daughter needed to get home on the bus for some reason and no one would walk her to the bus stop? You would be dissapointed. So i think my sister MONICA was kind hearted. But at the end of the day you need to think i you was in that sittuation, and no one was at home to look after the baby!
JUST STOP AND THINK!
THAT MAN NEEDS FOUND AND REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
Sorry but this is my sister you lot who are calling her foolish,who are fast to critize. I think that you are out of order y ou dont know the rest of her life style. Who are you really. Imagine your daughter needed to get home on the bus for some reason and no one would walk her to the bus stop? You would be dissapointed. So i think my sister MONICA was kind hearted. But at the end of the day you need to think i you was in that sittuation, and no one was at home to look after the baby!
JUST STOP AND THINK!
I wasn't aware that they had bus service at that hour of the a.m. I guess things have changed since I lived in the Leys. It was good job that Monica was there to protect the teenager, what was she doing whilst the "thug" was trying to get Monica? I assume she was running like her too?Strange all very scary
I wasn't aware that they had bus service at that hour of the a.m. I guess things have changed since I lived in the Leys. It was good job that Monica was there to protect the teenager, what was she doing whilst the "thug" was trying to get Monica? I assume she was running like her too?Strange all very scary
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