RUNCORN GRANDMOTHER TRACKS DOWN HER ATTACKER AND HELPS SECURE CONVICTION
A grandmother taxi driver named Sylvia Holden, aged 53, from Runcorn, used her wits to track down her attacker, Wayne Parry, 20, of Eagles Way, Hallwood Park, Runcorn, after she was molested in her taxi on November 20 last year.Mrs Holden, who is also a mother and grandmother, waived her anonymity to speak out against her attacker.
She recounted the attack: "He grabbed me from behind because he was sat in the back," she said.
"I was wearing my seatbelt so I couldn't move.
He tried to kiss me and put his tongue in my mouth.
He also started strangling me, feeling me and talking dirty.
I have never seen such violence from a man before.
I was black and blue and in total shock." Parry was found guilty of sexual assault following a two-day trial at Chester Crown Court last week.
Mrs Holden expressed her relief: "I feel absolutely fantastic.
I couldn't have asked for a better outcome.
It lets these thugs know that they can't get away with it.
I am a mother and a grandmother - not just someone behind a wheel.
I know every hard guy on the street and have seen a lot of different things in my time, but this is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life." She also called on women to come forward if they are attacked: "They have got to come forward to keep these people off the streets.
It's not just for themselves.
It's for all women.
You never know when these kinds of people might do it again." PC Helen Stacey of Runcorn Police added: "Mrs Holden was very determined to see the case through and we are all very pleased to get the right result for her.
I think, with sexual assault victims, people think it is not worth reporting, but she did the right thing and he has been found guilty for a very, very nasty crime." Parry is scheduled for sentencing at Liverpool Crown Court on July 31.
