A woman has spoken of the terrifying moment an attacker tried to rip off her clothes during an alleged unprovoked assault.
Naomi Harcourt has waived her right to anonymity to describe the frightening incident, which took place near her home in Norton, Stockton, on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old said that she had been on her way to the local shop when a man approached her and grabbed at her clothing on Greta Road, just before 7pm.
During the struggle, Naomi says she fell to the ground - where her attacker allegedly stamped on her head, face, back and ribs leaving her with heavy bruising and cuts to her hand.
The mum-of-one said: “It was just terrifying. It must have only lasted minutes, but I was in shock afterwards.
“I dread to think what would have happened had I had my daughter with me, and I do not want this to happen to anyone else.
“I am hoping that somebody saw something, and this person can be caught.
“It frightens me that this person is still out there.
“I had never seen the man before. It happened so quickly that I didn’t get the best look at him, and then he ran away.
“He was about six foot four, and he was quite stocky. He was wearing a grey hoodie and white trainers. I only know he was a white man because I saw his hands.”
Naomi Harcourt
Naomi, mum to five-year-old Scarlet, said that the man did not take money from her, and left only after she managed to scratch him on the neck in self defence.
She was also left with torn clothing.
Naomi then telephoned her family, and an uncle who lives nearby rushed to the scene and called police.
A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police confirmed to The Gazette that the force received a call at around 7.10pm on Saturday.
Officers conducted door-to-door enquiries and are still investigating the incident.
Former Grangefield School pupil Naomi, who said she is “still shaken” after her ordeal, is now staying with dad Alan Arnold in Newham Grange in Stockton.
Mr Arnold said: “The police came out on Saturday night and told us they would come back on Sunday to take the clothes Naomi was wearing, but they never.
“I think they should have been straight back here and taken DNA evidence. She scratched him, so will presumably have had this person’s DNA under her fingernails.
“At the end of the day this was not a mugging, nothing was taken from her. It was a sex attack.
“Does something even more serious have to happen for police to take it seriously?”
The Gazette understands that police were due to visit Naomi again on Monday evening.
Anyone who may have been in the area, or seen the incident, should contact police on 101.
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