First published on Thursday 03 May 2001:

Men tried to bundle girl into their car

by Charles Heslett

A 15-year-old girl spoke of her horror today after she came within inches of being bundled into a stranger's car.

The attack happened at around 7.20pm on Monday when the teenager, who is too frightened to be named, was walking along Harrogate Road in Eccleshill, Bradford, to a friend's house.

Two Asian men in a `souped-up' red Nissan Micra pulled up alongside her and shouted `Get in, bitch, we're going to take you for a long ride'.

The pair then did a U-turn and parked down a side street next to the TJ's pub before getting out of the car and confronting their terrified victim.

The St Joseph's Roman Catholic College pupil, who lives in Eccleshill, said: "I was shaking. They said `Get into the car'. I didn't know what to do.

"I tried to flag a car down but it just drove past.

"All I could think of was to get my mobile phone out. I told them I was on to the police and that seemed to stop them in their tracks.

"Actually my battery had run out, but they turned around and said `We'll be back later for you, bitch,' before getting back into their car. I thought they were going to kidnap me.

"I won't go out on my own now - I'm too scared of this happening again.

"I thought they were going to do something horrible to me if they got me in their car."

Sandra Holmes, 37, the victim's mother, said she was disgusted with what happened to her daughter.

She said: "She's afraid to go out on the streets alone. I try not to be over-protective but I'm afraid to let her go out.

"I've got another teenage daughter - do I keep her in as well?"

Mrs Holmes reported the incident to Bradford North police and two officers were on the scene within ten minutes, but could not trace the men.

One is described as Asian, about 5ft 8in tall, with a ponytail and hair shaved at the side. The other was also Asian, 5ft 8in, with a skinhead.

Inspector Harcharan Singh, of Bradford North police, said CID detectives were trying to trace the car but the girl had not managed to get a registration number for the vehicle.

Anyone with information should call (01274) 376059.