By CASEY NEILL
A SPRINGVALE woman has spoken of her terror at being sexually assaulted in her car while stopped in traffic in Noble Park.
The Star reported last week that the man opened Vanessa’s front passenger door and got into her car at Noble Park’s Simpson Street and Heatherton Road intersection about 7pm on Wednesday 3 July.
She has shared her story in the hope that someone will recognise the man and come forward.
“I do believe if I had of been younger and a bit more inexperienced he would have succeeded in raping and perhaps killing me,” she said.
“He will try this again. I do not believe that I will be his first or his last attack.”
She spotted the man in her rear view mirror, frantically waving his arms, as she came to a stop in traffic.
“He then leapt into my vehicle yelling ’go, go, go’ so I’ve actually assumed that he needed some form of help,” she said.
Vanessa asked him what was wrong and if she could help, while keeping her eyes on the road.
“That’s when I realised not only was he not wearing a shirt, he also had no shoes, it was freezing cold,” she said.
He slid his hands across and grabbed her breast.
“He didn’t threaten to kill me but he did place his hand around my throat and tell me to be quiet,” she said.
She shoved the attacker and screamed at him to get out of her car, while using her arm on the horn.
“He said ‘come on’ in a cajoling manner, like I was the one with the problem,” she said.
“He didn’t raise his voice and yell at me. He just very calmly got out of my car and disappeared into the night.”
Vanessa said the incident had left her shocked, particularly the man’s age.
“This person would not be more than 17 to 20 years old,” she said.
“I have a son around the same age. It’s incredibly distressing to think that someone around that age is capable of doing what he did.
“He was sexually determined. That’s what the motivation for being in my vehicle.”
She’s hoping other motorists and passers-by saw the incident and will contact police.
“Someone would have seen him running around the streets with no shoes, no shirt.
“I just have to hope somebody has seen him and can come forward,” she said.
Dandenong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) has received a large response from the public and is continuing its investigation.
The attacker’s described as 17 to 21 and Islander in appearance with a solid, muscular build, brown eyes, short black, spikey hair and tanned skin.
Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 with any information.
