A WOMAN SUFFERED a 'terrifying attack' when she was sexually assaulted on a towpath by a man who followed then grabbed her.
The attack took place on the Grand Union towpath in Birmingham in broad daylight, Keith Gudgin reports.
Admitted assault
A man has admitted the assault in court
The 39 years old was grabbed and pushed towards some bushes by a man who directed a sexual demand at her on Sunday 5th October..
She struggled to fight off the assault before running from the scene in terror.
Running away she captured video on her mobile that was used to track him down, with the man admitting the assault in court.
Speaking out, the woman told Birmingham Live:
“I have never had that feeling before by the canals.
“Since it happened, the only walk I have done is to the local shop and back, which is really unlike me. It has put me off.”
Man seemed 'strange'
The terrified woman told the harrowing ordeal unfolded when she was walking along one of her regular routes, and she noticed the man, who seemed 'strange' to her, and passed him by.
On her return along the path she walked past the same man, who began to follow her, so feeling uneasy, she pretended to tie her shoelace, kneeling down in the hope the man would walk right past her.
Instead, he launched a terrifying assault, grabbing her as she stood up.
The attacker grabbed her arms and she began saying 'no' but the man kept up his assault, trying to push her backwards into some nearby bushes.
Screamed and fought back
The woman screamed and fought back, this making the man let go of her, and then he made his sexual demand.
She continued to scream and cry and the attacker began to walk away, leaving the horrified mother to escape. She captured the video of the retreating man while she fled, which later proved crucial in finding the attacker.
This led to the arrest of Matthew Buffong, 43, of Yardley.
He admitted sexual assault on a female at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court and was given conditional bail and is due to be sentenced in January.