Rescued From A Rape Attack... By My 3-Year-Old

- Sarah Holmes & Helen O'Brien

Staring out of the bus window, my three-year-old daughter Holly sitting beside me, I couldn’t wait to get home. It was July 2015, and I’d taken Holly for a swim at our local baths in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. We were both exhausted and I could still smell the chlorine in her hair as she nestled into my side.

‘Are you excited to see Daddy?’ I asked, and a cheeky little grin spread across her face. It was two weeks since my partner Adam had gone abroad with his friends for a holiday and now he was due home in a few hours – we were so excited.

No good fighting

I was so busy thinking about Adam that at first I didn’t notice the young looking man as he staggered on to the bus. But then I saw his broad 6ft frame swaying as he walked to a seat. He was obviously drunk, and his left knuckle looked bruised and swollen. There were only a few other people on the bus and dropping himself into a seat a couple of rows in front of me and Holly, he immediately swivelled around – his bleary-eyed gaze catching mine before I could look away. ‘Had a nice day, darling?’ he asked, smiling.

‘Yes, thank you,’ I replied, not wanting to anger him. But when he insisted on continuing the conversation I knew I’d made a mistake. He said he wasn’t from around here and needed directions. I told him to stay on the bus to the end of the line, and as we swung to a halt at our stop I grabbed Holly by the hand and darted off.

It was 9.30pm and darker than I’d realised. The street lights were flickering to life along the main road. I stopped to do up Holly’s jacket when suddenly, I noticed a figure loitering behind us. My heart quickened as I realised it was the man from the bus.