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from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

CCTV wasn't on as woman attacked

Jun 28 2002

By Vicky Wilks, South London Press

A COMMUNITY activist who was attacked by a thug at a cash machine has discovered the security camera which should have recorded her ordeal was not working.

The 30-year-old woman, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, was using the cashpoint at the Tesco supermarket in Kennington Lane when the man, who was wearing an England football shirt, attacked her.

Just before the attack the community activist and health manager was having trouble with the machine.

The football fan was standing behind her and began swearing and shouting.

His victim tried to explain the machine was not working properly, but was floored by blows to the back of her neck and top of her head before being repeatedly kicked.

The woman suffered severe bruising to her back, a swollen jaw and bumps on her head.

She said: "I just remember falling, and the next thing I knew I was on the floor and holding my face as he kicked me in the back."

Her attacker, who did not steal the woman's bag or mobile phone, ran off into a nearby estate and was unsuccessfully chased by a Big Issue seller.

Days later she learned from police that the CCTV camera, owned and operated by Tesco and fixed to the wall above the cashpoint, had not been working.

She told the South London Press: "The cashpoint is on their property so the onus should be on them to ensure that it is a safe place for people to withdraw cash. They are going to provide a service so they should at least make sure it's safe."

A Tesco spokesman said: "Customers' safety is of paramount concern to us."

But he added: "We cannot go into the details of the workings of our CCTV system."

The victim, who wants her attacker to be caught, said: "I am worried for myself as he is local and I knock on people's doors for my voluntary work, but I am also worried he might do the same to someone else."

Police confirmed details of the attack, which happened at about 11.30am on Sunday, June 16, and are investigating an allegation of actual bodily harm.

The attacker is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5ft 3ins tall, overweight, unshaven and wearing an England football shirt.

Anyone with information should contact Kennington Police Station: 020-8649 2414.

(posted 7943 days ago)

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