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'I have cried myself to sleep'
A MOTHER and daughter were savagely beaten on a packed tube train after asking a girl to stop flicking sweets at them.
Hardeep, 29, and her mother Jashan, 50, of West Ealing, say they have both been left traumatised by the unprovoked assault.
Both women, who were so shaken by the brutal assault they have asked for only their first names to be printed, say the worst part of the terrifying ordeal was that nobody in the packed carriage stepped forward to pull the attackers off.
Hardeep said: "It has left me completely traumatised. I have cried myself to sleep every night since this happened. I never imagined something like this could happen on a busy train.
"I thought surely someone has to step in and stop this. Why did none of those men in the carriage do something to stop it? What has affected me almost as much is that so many people did not care enough to help us. It makes me think I should not be so caring towards other people."
The attack happened on a Central Line train between West Acton and Ealing Broadway at around 9.30pm, on Saturday, May 3, after Hardeep asked a girl to stop flicking sweets from an elasticated candy necklace at her.
Jashan said: "The girl had flicked sweets three times onto Hardeep before she asked her to stop.
"When she did, the girl said Who do you think you are, my mother?'. Hardeep did not respond so she kept asking and eventually my daughter said If I was your mother I would be ashamed'."
At this point a man who was sitting next to the girl started threatening to headbutt Hardeep. He then grabbed her. When Jashan stood up to defend her daughter, the girl stood up and blocked her way. Then she hit Jashan.
Jashan said: "At that point I blacked out, and the next thing I remember is seeing my daughter lying on the ground and both of them kicking her.
"Then the man grabbed her hair and pulled her head off the ground, before saying to me Watch this'. Then he began stamping on her chest with his boot. I went to pull him off, but he grabbed my throat and started strangling me."
Hardeep, who had been out shopping for a dress to wear to her graduation next week, has been left covered in bruises.
She said: "I never used to think badly of people, but that girl was deliberately trying to push all the buttons. No-one but my mother tried to stop them getting away, not the station workers or the police who came down.
"Only two people stayed to give statements to the police, the rest of them just disappeared. I would urge anyone who saw it to come forward so these people can be caught before they do something like this again."
PC Tracey Taylor-Provost, of British Transport Police (BTP), said: "We have collected forensic evidence and will be speaking with witnesses and reviewing CCTV from the station to help determine the attackers' identities.
"This was a vicious and completely unprovoked attack on two women who were simply making their way home."
The first suspect is described as a man, aged about 18, He is around 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing a grey, brown and khaki baseball cap, which was white under the peak.
The girl is described as white with a pale complexion, aged around 17. She is 5ft 5ins tall, with straight black shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white top with skinny trousers and slip on shoes and was carrying a white carrier bag with a distinctive chequered pattern across the middle.
Anyone with information can contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
11:07am Friday 9th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Wayne Bridges, Ealing on 12:25pm Fri 9 May 08
This makes my bllod boil to think not one person tried to help them.
one of the issues that Boris needs to stamp out is anti social behaviour.
Lets make a start by catching the b**tards,lock them up and throw away the key.
That also includes the people who just stood their like lemons and did not do anything.
This makes my bllod boil to think not one person tried to help them.
one of the issues that Boris needs to stamp out is anti social behaviour.
Lets make a start by catching the b**tards,lock them up and throw away the key.
That also includes the people who just stood their like lemons and did not do anything.
Posted by: Nigel Brooks, Hanwell on 4:30pm Fri 9 May 08
Spot on Wayne.
I'm thoroughly fed up with all the work the police do in brigning scum to book to be dashed by pathetic fines and non-custodial sentences.
Hardeep, I hope that your graduation goes well and that you can put this behind you.
Spot on Wayne.
I'm thoroughly fed up with all the work the police do in brigning scum to book to be dashed by pathetic fines and non-custodial sentences.
Hardeep, I hope that your graduation goes well and that you can put this behind you.
Posted by: amrik mahi, southall on 4:57pm Fri 9 May 08
Shame on society for not stopping the attack.If you were on the train you should look in the mirror and hold your head in shame. The only decent thing for the so called members of society is to come forward and give witness accouts to the police.
Shame on society for not stopping the attack.If you were on the train you should look in the mirror and hold your head in shame. The only decent thing for the so called members of society is to come forward and give witness accouts to the police.
Posted by: jag, southall on 9:32pm Fri 9 May 08
and where on earth was the ticket inspector or the community police officers when this was happening, they seem to be on every carraige at once when everything is fine, but [bold]no where[/bold] to be seen when there is trouble, im not someone to encourage violence, but its because of people like this that i learnt kung fu
and where on earth was the ticket inspector or the community police officers when this was happening, they seem to be on every carraige at once when everything is fine, but
no where to be seen when there is trouble, im not someone to encourage violence, but its because of people like this that i learnt kung fu
Posted by: mohammed, greenford on 10:52pm Fri 9 May 08
hardeep, this story bought tears to my eyes. problem is no one has any fear of God in their hearts.
to all those people who did nothing remember this: what goes around comes around.
I pray to GOD i have the courage to interfere in situation like this.
hardeep, this story bought tears to my eyes. problem is no one has any fear of God in their hearts.
to all those people who did nothing remember this: what goes around comes around.
I pray to GOD i have the courage to interfere in situation like this.
Posted by: 49erDweet, Monterey Bay, US on 11:28pm Fri 9 May 08
Unbelievable. What a car-load of nincompoops. What has happened to Brits? Have they all undergone a form on national mass castration? I've ridden that line at about the same time, and only wish I had been there to have a chance to protect the pair from those pigs. Minding your own business only goes so far. After that its called "cowardice".
Unbelievable. What a car-load of nincompoops. What has happened to Brits? Have they all undergone a form on national mass castration? I've ridden that line at about the same time, and only wish I had been there to have a chance to protect the pair from those pigs. Minding your own business only goes so far. After that its called "cowardice".
Posted by: Michele, Knoxville,TN,USA on 6:35am Sat 10 May 08
Apalling. I thought this stuff just happened in New York Subways. That really makes me sad for humanity that people are too unaffected to step in and stop something like this when it happens. And there were MEN on the train that didn't help those women??? Horrid. I hope karma kicks their butts later on in life.
Apalling. I thought this stuff just happened in New York Subways. That really makes me sad for humanity that people are too unaffected to step in and stop something like this when it happens. And there were MEN on the train that didn't help those women??? Horrid. I hope karma kicks their butts later on in life.
Posted by: Lalu, Ealing on 5:25pm Sat 10 May 08
I take this line everyday to go into the city,oh dear lord, what is happening to us?I just hope that they get those bust**ds.i think, it is shameful that we are becoming a society that lacks any sense of community and courage to protect each other. I am however, mostly shocked , that the police didn't do any- think to catch them. If people like this knw , how easy it is to get away with such crimes , there is no doubt that they will strike again. Anyway Hardeep, i hope you will have a wonderful graduation and good luck with finding those morons . Best of[bold][bold]bold[/bold] [/bold] wishes, xxx[bold][bold]bold[/bold] [/bold]
I take this line everyday to go into the city,oh dear lord, what is happening to us?I just hope that they get those bust**ds.i think, it is shameful that we are becoming a society that lacks any sense of community and courage to protect each other. I am however, mostly shocked , that the police didn't do any- think to catch them. If people like this knw , how easy it is to get away with such crimes , there is no doubt that they will strike again. Anyway Hardeep, i hope you will have a wonderful graduation and good luck with finding those morons . Best of
wishes, xxx
Posted by: Brent, London on 9:47pm Sat 10 May 08
The reasons people don't intervene boil down to one factor: self preservation.
The risks of becoming involved far outweigh the reward that comes with doing the right thing. You can face a beating yourself, or if you do stop the attack and injure one of these scumbags, you face prosecution for assault.
It is high time that the government declared these anti-social criminals outlaws, removing their rights and freedoms under the law so that decent people are free to enforce the law without fear of being hauled before the courts.
Rehabilitation of offenders is a worth goal, but there is no way the government will put the resources in to ensure that jails become places of rehabilitation and not just places of punishment. We're much better off admitting this, then moving forwards to design a criminal justice system that removes the threat of criminal elements through segregation or elimination.
Bleeding-heart liberals may cry all they like, but you'll not see them putting on a blue uniform and actually facing these idiots very often.
The reasons people don't intervene boil down to one factor: self preservation.
The risks of becoming involved far outweigh the reward that comes with doing the right thing. You can face a beating yourself, or if you do stop the attack and injure one of these scumbags, you face prosecution for assault.
It is high time that the government declared these anti-social criminals outlaws, removing their rights and freedoms under the law so that decent people are free to enforce the law without fear of being hauled before the courts.
Rehabilitation of offenders is a worth goal, but there is no way the government will put the resources in to ensure that jails become places of rehabilitation and not just places of punishment. We're much better off admitting this, then moving forwards to design a criminal justice system that removes the threat of criminal elements through segregation or elimination.
Bleeding-heart liberals may cry all they like, but you'll not see them putting on a blue uniform and actually facing these idiots very often.
Posted by: Croyboy on 3:15am today
49erDweet wrote[quote]Unbelievable. What a car-load of nincompoops. What has happened to Brits? [/quote]
Brits? In [italic]London[/italic]?
"Pretty few and far between" is the answer to that one!
49erDweet wrote
Unbelievable. What a car-load of nincompoops. What has happened to Brits?
Brits? In
London?
"Pretty few and far between" is the answer to that one!
Posted by: John Kenny, Ealing on 11:24am today
As a "large male", I might have been of some help if I had been there, although I would try to help by not lifting a finger.
I stopped 2 similar incidences on the New York subway many years ago by doing nothing physical. Just by establishing presence, cowards will nearly always back off.
This is different when football thugs are on the go, because of safety in numbers they actively seek out "large males" as targets. So I particularly have to hide when they are going through train carridges.
If verbal and "large presence" did not help. I would be extremely reluctant to help physically as I would fear being counter accused of assult by the 2 thugs involved.
In the bleeding heart legalistic environment the UK has fostered, the violent are themselves considered misunderstood victims and their misdeeds are actually considered a cry for help.
Fear of this legislative environment, may have caused some people to hold back and try to avoid trouble.
I feel really sorry for those 2 women.
As a "large male", I might have been of some help if I had been there, although I would try to help by not lifting a finger.
I stopped 2 similar incidences on the New York subway many years ago by doing nothing physical. Just by establishing presence, cowards will nearly always back off.
This is different when football thugs are on the go, because of safety in numbers they actively seek out "large males" as targets. So I particularly have to hide when they are going through train carridges.
If verbal and "large presence" did not help. I would be extremely reluctant to help physically as I would fear being counter accused of assult by the 2 thugs involved.
In the bleeding heart legalistic environment the UK has fostered, the violent are themselves considered misunderstood victims and their misdeeds are actually considered a cry for help.
Fear of this legislative environment, may have caused some people to hold back and try to avoid trouble.
I feel really sorry for those 2 women.
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