Vic: Police warning over festive season sexual assault

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-1999
Vic: Police warning over festive season sexual assault

Police have warned women to stay aware of the greater risk of sexual assault over the
festive season, after an overnight attack on a 19-year-old woman in Melbourne.

They say events like office parties and other Christmas-New Year socialising could
lead people to take risks at a time when they should be more careful.

Detective Senior Sergeant CHRIS O'CONNOR says about 1am, a young woman was attacked
in Alma Park, St Kilda, as she walked home alone after an evening with friends.

He says the attacker grabbed the woman, threw her on to a garden bed and tried to put
woodchips into her mouth to stop her from yelling.

But the man was interrupted, and ran off leaving the victim with minor scatches and
bruises. Police say they're certain he would have raped her if he hadn't been disturbed.

Sergeant O'CONNER has advised women to drink only with friends they trust, not to accept
drinks from strangers, to avoid secluded areas and not to walk alone at night.

AAP RTV gf/er/kbw/rp

KEYWORD: ASSAULTS (MELBOURNE)

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