A young woman in the UK bravely fought off a masked man who attempted to abduct her off the street, as revealed in a chilling video. The incident took place in Hove, a seaside suburb near Brighton, where 22-year-old Cameron Boxall tried to force the woman into a stolen vehicle before speeding away.
The 20-year-old victim resisted fiercely, screaming and kicking Boxall as he tried to pull her into the back seat of a Mini Cooper. The car sped off with her legs still protruding from the door. Despite her precarious situation, she continued to fight Boxall, punching him until he eventually ejected her from the moving vehicle. A passer-by found her in a state of shock and came to her aid.
Boxall has since been sentenced to five years in prison after a hearing at Hove Crown Court. He pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping, car theft, and marijuana possession. The court also issued an indefinite restraining order against him to protect his victim.
The victim, in a statement, expressed her trauma, stating that she felt as though she had “lost her freedom.” She detailed the physical injuries she sustained, including bruises, scratches, and a large lump on her head. She also expressed her struggle to comprehend the level of violence used against her, stating that she felt fortunate to be alive.
The court heard that Boxall, then 21, was driving a stolen car in Hove in the early hours of August 5, 2024. He had switched his number plates with those of a nearby car. He then approached his victim, a local woman, under the pretense of asking for directions. The prosecutor, Gareth Burrows, explained that Boxall had already identified her as his intended victim and had positioned the Mini to block her path.
After a struggle, Boxall managed to pull her into the back seat and drove off, repeatedly trying to close the door, which struck her legs several times. He eventually pushed her out of the moving vehicle. Boxall claimed in court that his intention was to rob the woman to settle a drug debt. Her handbag was later found untouched at the scene of the incident.
Detective Jack Sagar, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, described Boxall as a “dangerous, violent offender” and a “dangerous predator.” He commended the victim for her immense strength and bravery throughout the incident and the subsequent investigation. In the 2023-24 period, police in England recorded 7,277 kidnapping offenses, a stark contrast to Australia’s 501 recorded kidnapping victims.