Father of sex attack victim issues New Year's Eve warning

Sexual predators looking to take advantage of drunk young women will be mingling with partygoers this New Year's Eve, according to the father of one victim. 

His daughter arrived home traumatised in the early hours of Tuesday after being sexually assaulted on a drunken Monday night out in Palmerston North.

His 19-year-old daughter won't go to the police over her claims because she feels her intoxication put her partly at fault.

But the father wanted her story made public because he hopes the warning might save others.

"My daughter has been very lucky. What worries me is that this guy is still out there, cruising and waiting for another opportunity to pounce."

The man asked not to be named because it would identify his daughter.

"This happened when my daughter and her friends came out of a nightclub, there were lots of people on the street, and her friends stopped to talk to some other people.

"She didn't realise they'd stopped, and went on by herself.

"It took about 30 seconds for this guy to get her into his car. The alcohol made her an easy target."

His daughter told him the attacker spotted her when she became separated from her friends about 2am on Tuesday in The Square.

He stopped his car, got out and "push-coaxed" her into the front passenger seat.

The man drove away and about 15 minutes later, parked under a bridge, somewhere.

The father said his daughter did not know where they were.

He gave her a joint to smoke, which she accepted.

"Sex was high on his agenda. He began fondling her and encouraging her to do the same to him," he said.

"He tried to remove her clothing ... she kept pleading to go home."

Meanwhile, her friends arrived home and realised the young woman was missing.

They called her cellphone, trying to find her.

"A male voice answered, 'hello'. Then the phone went dead and it was switched off."

After a while the man, who said his name was Mark, agreed to take the young woman home and dropped her off at her flat at about 2.50am.

"So he knows where she lives. She's highly traumatised about this, very upset."

The father said he hoped his daughter would change her mind about going to the police because The Square's security cameras might have caught the incident.

He warned all young people, men and women, to be careful of their safety when they are out celebrating, particularly with New Year's Eve tomorrow night.

"Look after your mates, please."

Palmerston North CIB boss Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Sheridan said young people, especially women, should take some simple but basic precautions when out socialising .

"Know what you are drinking, have a buddy when you are out who will look after you, and always have a plan B as to how to get home.

"Some parents will also give their children, young adults, taxi chits, so if they run out of money they will also be able to get home safely.

"These may be just little things but if followed will ensure a horrible crime such as this will not happen to a young person."

Mr Sheridan said the woman should still go to the police.

"We can sit down and talk to her and if it leads to a statement of complaint, there will be an investigation."

Any discussion between the police and the victim would remain confidential.

- nzpa