AN ATTACK victim has told of her ordeal, in the hope it will encourage witnesses to come forward.

Laura Mason was walking with her dog Lola on Strensall Common between 2.30pm and 3.15pm on Sunday, near to the golf course when she was attacked.

Laura, who lives and works in York, has bruises on her neck from where the attacker grabbed her, and said she is still shaken by the experience but hoped sharing it may encourage anyone with information to contact police.

She said: “He said ‘hello beautiful’ to me first time I saw him. I thought it was a bit strange, and thought I would go another way so I didn’t have to walk by him.

"As I got a bit further down the track he just appeared from behind a tree, he must’ve raced ahead of me through the woodland.

“He put his hand up to my throat and said ‘don’t’, but as he said that Lola came and got hold of the bottom of his trouser leg. She’s the world’s softest dog, I’ve never seen her be vicious or even snarl at anyone, but she had his trouser leg. He turned round and kicked her, but she got up.

"It felt like forever but must only have been seconds. He tightened his grip and as he did I just heard him say ‘ow’, and bent down to his leg and let go of my neck so I just ran.”

The attacker was described as white, fat, with a chubby face, dark, greying facial hair, aged in his fifties and smelling of urine. He was wearing a dirty, orange, zip-up raincoat with a logo on it and dirty, dark green water-proof trousers with zips at the knees so they could be worn as shorts. He was wearing dark boots and had a Yorkshire accent.

York Press:

As Laura, 27, ran, Lola stayed between her and the attacker, preventing him from moving.

Laura said: “Every time he moved, she moved and was snarling and I carried on running because panic had set in. I fell over in the mud and when I got up she was back by my side.”

After phoning the police, Laura said she was worried about what might happen to Lola, but her mind was soon put at ease.

She said: “I was worried they were going to put Lola down because she’d bitten somebody, I think I was being irrational from the shock. Police went through everything, took my statement, and assured me Lola needed rewarding as she was protecting me, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

“Lola is very clingy since the attack, and a little bit whiny. I was really lucky as the police officer who came used to be a veterinary nurse and understood animals and said she’s going to be feeling exactly the same way I’m feeling but she seems okay in herself now.

"I never, ever thought she had it in her, I really didn’t. I keep looking at her and filling up thinking I’m really proud of her, but she’s had steak for tea for the last few nights so she’s probably thinking it’s great.”

Laura said she was worried that the outcome could be worse, and appealed to anyone who saw anything to contact police.

She said: “I’m worried it could happen to someone else. When you go out walking your dog, you think you’re safe. I know there are so many strange people out there, but you never expect anyone to approach you while you’ve got your dog with you.

“I know I’ve been really unlucky, but it’s just left me really shaken and nervous to take her out. If I thought I could help jog peoples’ memory and bring witnesses forward, it’s worth putting it out there.”

York Press:

Anyone who was on Strensall Common between 2pm and 3.30pm on Sunday should phone 101, email elle.smith1852@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or phone Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111 quoting reference 12170033337.