Elderly woman recounts violent Crestholme attack
The homeowner, also the founder of a non-profit company, recounts the harrowing experience.
AN elderly woman, and the founder of the Animal Rescue and Rehab Centre, Shelley Rawsthorne, was attacked and beaten by a suspect in her Crestholme home on Women’s Day.
At about 06:20 on Monday, August 9, Rawsthorne was outside her back door, en route to feed the cats in her care, when she saw a man walking towards her.
“He greeted me and it was only when he got closer and into the light that I saw it was not my guard,” said the 53-year-old.
She noticed the unknown man was holding a screwdriver. Feeling threatened, she backed into the kitchen and attempted to shut the security gate.
“He grabbed the gate, pulled it open and pushed me inside and onto the floor,” said Rawsthorne.
He knelt over her, pointed the screwdriver at her face while he attempted to pull the house keys from her jeans all the while attempting to close he door to the kitchen with his foot.
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With the door now closed and the keys in his possession, he locked them both inside the house.
“When he locked the back door, I managed to get the screwdriver and he picked up my doorstop (a brick) and he was trying to hit me with it,” said the founder of the NPO. “I remember screaming as I was trying to fight him off. I remember being on my back, on the floor, defending myself while he tried to strangle me.”
She heard voices outside the back door, men shouting and attempting to gain access to the home to help her.
Her assailant wrestled back control of the screwdriver and made his way to the bedroom. During this time, Rawsthorne grabbed a knife and, without the keys, was not able to let the security detail inside the home.
“I then followed him to the bedroom. My computer was in there, which he ripped from the wall and tried to throw at me. He also emptied my handbag contents over the floor. I was desperate to find my keys to let the security in,” she said.
The man pushed past her and ran into the lounge and grabbed the knife from her.
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“I feared for my life. I was screaming for the security guard to break the door down,” she said.
Her assailant ripped the oil heater from the wall and, as he lifted it above his head to hit her in the face, the security guard issued a warning.
Blue Security operations director, Brian Jackson, said, “Our officer witnessed the suspect willfully assaulting the victim with a heater. His numerous verbal warnings to the suspect failed to diffuse the situation. Our officer took a calm, calculated shot which struck the suspect on his foot, resulting in his apprehension. Our armed response officer’s rapid response and calculated execution of his duties saved the resident from potentially fatal injuries at the hands of the attacker.”
Hillcrest SAPS communications officer, Capt Linzi Smith confirmed the incident. She added that a case of attempted house robbery was opened.
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