Harrowing moment balaclava-clad thug randomly snatches woman off street
Harrowing footage has shown the moment a woman screamed for her life as she desperately fought a balaclava-clad stranger who dragged her into a waiting car in a sickening kidnap plot.
Brighton Crown Court heard how Cameron Boxall, 22, grabbed the young victim and pulled her towards a stolen Mini Cooper, which he had switched the number plates on, as she punched and kicked him. He had earlier parked the car near a street corner where he knew the woman, 20, would have to walk. When she got near enough, he pretended to ask for directions before grabbing her, with nearby doorbell footage capturing her harrowing screams of 'no'. Boxall managed to get her inside the car, driving off as she was hanging out the passenger door. The victim bravely fought against Boxall, punching at him until he kicked her out of the car where a passerby was able to jump to her aid.
Boxall admitted a charge of kidnap, theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, making off without payment, and possession of cannabis. Boxall had prepared for the attempted kidnap, buying Marigold gloves from a corner shop and had been seen wearing a balaclava as he drove around Hove in the early hours of August 5 last year.
But footage from his police interviews shows he initially denied any wrongdoing. Now, his victim has bravely allowed the full video showing her horrifying ordeal to be published.
In her victim impact statement, the young woman said she felt lucky to be alive. She said: 'What happened is still raw to me. I had to fight really hard against him. I had bruises and scratches on my back, arms and legs from where he threw me out of the car and a massive lump on my head.
"What happened has changed the way I view the world. I always thought Brighton was a safe place to live. I won't go out on my own any more, I feel I've lost my freedom.
"I understand it's a one in a million chance it will happen again but even going out in the day I'm anxious. I've not done anything wrong and did not deserve what happened to me. I struggle to understand the level of violence he used against me and I feel lucky to be alive."
Her mother said the emotional trauma had profoundly disrupted the family. She told police: 'The emotional aftermath has not been easy to overcome. It has forever altered our lives in ways which go beyond the immediate harm."
Gareth Burrows for the Crown prosecution said: "He had already identified her as his intended victim. The Mini was positioned to block her route. He called out to her.
"He said, 'Excuse me, I'm a bit lost, I'm looking for Brunswick Place, can you help me?' His intention was to draw her close. He got out of the car, saying 'Get in the f***ing car'. In the ensuing struggle, her bra broke."
Her head was pulled into the footwell of the Mini Cooper, Mr Burrows said. Despite her desperate attempts to fight, the victim was dragged into the car and Boxall drove off with the door still open.
The court heard Boxall was driving around Hove in the early hours of August 5 wearing a balaclava after stealing the Mini Cooper and switching the numberplate. Mr Burrows said: "The complainant saw the black Mini he was driving and noticed he was wearing a face covering. She said it seemed insignificant at the time."
He bought the Marigold gloves at a corner shop and was filmed by a CCTV camera putting them in his pocket. Boxall's mum, sister and partner were in court to hear the screams of his victim.
Video played in court showed Boxall reversing into a parking space on a corner where he knows the woman he has identified as his victim will have to walk past. Boxall tried to claim he wanted to rob the young woman to pay a drugs debt, the court heard. Her handbag was found untouched on the pavement where she was snatched.
Mr Burrows continued to outline the details of the harrowing attack, saying: "As he was driving away, he repeatedly attempted to close the door, causing her legs to be struck a number of times. she was punching him in every manner she could and this likely thwarted his objective. He pushed her out of the moving vehicle and she was found on the ground in a state of shock."
Recorder Lucy Beaumont told Boxall: "The seriousness and impact of your offending cannot be understated. The CCTV is hard to watch, imagining what was going through the victim's mind at the time."
Detective Sergeant Jack Sagar, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'Boxall is a dangerous predator who preyed on a young woman innocently walking home putting her through a horrific distressing ordeal, where she feared for her life. We commend her for the immense strength and bravery she has shown throughout the incident and during our subsequent investigation.
"With the details she was able to provide, combined with our fast paced and intensive enquiries, we swiftly identified Boxall as the suspect and brought him into custody. We built a strong evidential case which, when presented to the court, resulted in a guilty plea ensuring this dangerous violent offender has been caught and taken off the streets.'
Superintendent Petra Lazar, of Brighton and Hove Division, said: 'Everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe in a public place. We are fully committed to ensuring that is the case and work incredibly closely with partners to ensure a range of measures are in place to address vulnerability, tackle crime and provide reassurance.
"Violence against women and girls will absolutely not be tolerated. An incident such as this is appalling, and every effort will be made to bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims.'
Boxall was jailed for five years with a two year extended sentence under new guidelines issued on April 1 this year. He will serve two thirds of the custodial sentence in prison before he is eligible to apply for parole.
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