Clacton mum, 57, speaks out after being attacked by masked men

Diane Redburn, 57, of Clacton, was driving home from the Tesco supermarket down Little Clacton Road on November 11 at about 7.30pm.

As she approached and slowed down at a sharp bend her vehicle’s headlights cut through the pitch-black darkness to reveal a man standing in the middle of the road.

Instinctively, Diane came to a sudden stop, but as she did another man forced his way into the passenger side of her car and unleashed an unrelenting assault.

“He was pulling at me, grabbing my hair and hitting my face, but another car was approaching from the other way so they ran off,” added the mother-of-five.

“It all happened so quickly and it was so scary, and I just wanted to get home to my husband but I had to stop for a few minutes as I was shaking so much.

“I then drove home and my husband came and got me out the car as I was unable to move. I was trying to tell him what had happened in between crying and vomiting.”

Despite the thugs’ horrifying attack, brave Diane says they made off empty handed, due to her valuables, including her bag and mobile phone, being in her car boot.

She has now urged all drivers, especially women, to make sure their car doors are always locked, even when they are travelling on the road.

She added: “I drive down that road all the time, sometimes from one end to the other end without seeing a car but then sometimes it is really busy.

“I don’t know what might have happened if the other car hadn’t driven by when it did.

“That is why I am now telling everyone to keep their doors locked whilst driving. I had been shopping so never thought about locking my door or which way to drive home.

“If this can prevent anyone else getting hurt by them locking their doors, I am happy.”

Anyone with information can contact Essex Police on 101 quoting incident number 879 of November 11.