Woman left 'psychologically traumatised' after assault

Victim scared of walking alone on the street after attack

A "traumatised" woman says she is now scared to walk the streets alone after being sexually assaulted on her way home in Dubai, a court heard.

The 20-year-old Frenchwoman had just left a café when she grabbed by behind by a male assailant, who held her neck with one hand and covered her mouth with the other.

The 22-year-old attacker tried to pull her toward trees while touching her breast and warning her to remain silent, according to court documents.

The victim, a switchboard operator at a hotel in Dubai, pushed him back and he ran away, hiding behind the trees, before trying to grab her again.  She ran and screamed asking for help.

A group of people offered their help to the woman and dropped her back to her home.

The Pakistani man admitted a sexual molestation charge at Dubai Criminal Court in relation to the incident on May 10 of this year.

“The defendant grabbed my neck roughly and shoulder. He kept saying remain silent while touching my breast,” the victim told prosecutors.

The victim requested the court to order the toughest punishment against him because she has since become scared of walking alone in the streets and was left  psychologically traumatised, according to court documents.

A 30-year-old police officer, who investigated the incident, said: “The Operation room received a report about the assault near Dubai Investment Park and we rushed to the scene. The videos, recorded on surveillance cameras in the area where the incident took place, were analysed by police officers. The defendant was seen running after the victim.

“Police received an increasing number of reports from women about similar incidents in the same area for two months. A police team was formed to identify the defendant and he was arrested on May 17,” he added.

The hearing was adjourned until July 29.