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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Woman assaulted on way home launches safety app | Woman assaulted on way home launches safety app |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A woman who was attacked while walking alone after a night out has launched an app to help people get home safely. | A woman who was attacked while walking alone after a night out has launched an app to help people get home safely. |
| Sarah Murphy, 29, said four men tried to force her into a car in Clapham, south-west London. | Sarah Murphy, 29, said four men tried to force her into a car in Clapham, south-west London. |
| After being told she "shouldn't have been out alone" at night, she said she wanted to help others "take back control of their safety". | After being told she "shouldn't have been out alone" at night, she said she wanted to help others "take back control of their safety". |
| Ms Murphy, from Ascot, Berkshire, said her app, Chaperhome, allows people to feel safe without feeling tracked. | Ms Murphy, from Ascot, Berkshire, said her app, Chaperhome, allows people to feel safe without feeling tracked. |
| The recruiter, who was 25 when she was attacked, said safety apps designed for lone walkers generally have a "big fear-factor". | The recruiter, who was 25 when she was attacked, said safety apps designed for lone walkers generally have a "big fear-factor". |
| She claims that instead of an "enormous red button which makes you feel quite afraid", hers allows users to not feel they are being constantly monitored. | She claims that instead of an "enormous red button which makes you feel quite afraid", hers allows users to not feel they are being constantly monitored. |
| How it works | How it works |
| In the free version of Chaperhome, users can nominate someone to get reminders to check they are okay. | In the free version of Chaperhome, users can nominate someone to get reminders to check they are okay. |
| Users can also alert nominated friends and family if they are feeling unsafe. | Users can also alert nominated friends and family if they are feeling unsafe. |
| In the premium version, which requires a subscription of 99p a month, nominated people will be alerted if the user fails to arrive as expected. | In the premium version, which requires a subscription of 99p a month, nominated people will be alerted if the user fails to arrive as expected. |
| Members of the public can log places they deem as unsafe for lone walkers. | Members of the public can log places they deem as unsafe for lone walkers. |
| Recollecting her attack on an August night, Ms Murphy said it was about 03:30 BST when she was bundled into the saloon car by the attackers. | Recollecting her attack on an August night, Ms Murphy said it was about 03:30 BST when she was bundled into the saloon car by the attackers. |
| She kept kicking at its window with her heels until she finally managed to free herself of their grip and get out of the car. | She kept kicking at its window with her heels until she finally managed to free herself of their grip and get out of the car. |
| The men were trying to shove her back in when a bus approached and scared them away, she said. | The men were trying to shove her back in when a bus approached and scared them away, she said. |
| After making it home safely, Ms Murphy said: "I woke up the next day and my leg started to swell up, the shock and adrenaline had worn off and the reality started sinking in." | After making it home safely, Ms Murphy said: "I woke up the next day and my leg started to swell up, the shock and adrenaline had worn off and the reality started sinking in." |
| She visited the hospital and was told that the force she had been subjected to was akin to being crushed by a car. | She visited the hospital and was told that the force she had been subjected to was akin to being crushed by a car. |
| Ms Murphy said the attack, which happened just 10 minutes from her home, left her feeling as if she was in "fight-or-flight mode". | Ms Murphy said the attack, which happened just 10 minutes from her home, left her feeling as if she was in "fight-or-flight mode". |
| She went to the police who were unable to find the attackers. | She went to the police who were unable to find the attackers. |
| "When they realised that they weren't going to find the people [attackers] they said 'you shouldn't be walking at that time of night alone'", Ms Murphy said. | "When they realised that they weren't going to find the people [attackers] they said 'you shouldn't be walking at that time of night alone'", Ms Murphy said. |
| "That's not right. I was young, I was living the life that I should be living and I was told to not do that." | "That's not right. I was young, I was living the life that I should be living and I was told to not do that." |
| Ms Murphy said apparent victim-blaming had contributed to her wanting to create something to help others. | Ms Murphy said apparent victim-blaming had contributed to her wanting to create something to help others. |
| The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: "following a thorough investigation, no suspects could be identified." | |
| Ms Murphy "was kept informed of the progress of the investigation and the outcome," it added. |