Couple thwart alleged abduction

A retired couple, alerted by screaming, rushed from their house to foil an alleged abduction of a young woman in Nelson yesterday.

The 18-year-old woman was attacked as she walked on Muritai Street in suburban Tahunanui at 9.40pm, police said.

She reported hearing footsteps behind her, then was grabbed around the throat by a man and dragged to a nearby vehicle, Detective Sergeant Mark Kaveney said.

The woman's screams alerted a couple living in a house nearby. They managed to distract the man to enable the woman to flee from the vehicle and run to the couple's house.

But the man turned on the older woman, aged 62, striking her on the head causing her to fall to the ground, police said.

The man tried to leave in his vehicle but had lost his keys in the attack and had to walk away, Mr Kaveney said.

He returned to pick up his vehicle while police were at the scene investigating the attack and gave himself up.

Mr Kaveney said the two woman, who were not known to each other, were injured.

The younger woman suffered cuts and bruising and was in a state of shock. The older woman suffered a cut to the back of the head that required medical attention at the scene.

A man, 29, is to appear in Nelson District Court tomorrow charged with robbery, abduction, assault with intent to commit sexual violation and injuring with intent.

- NZPA