A woman was sexually assaulted on the Real Ale Trail in the Colne Valley.
Now as police investigate, Slaithwaite woman, Jo Dyrlaga, has waived her right to anonymity to encourage more women to speak up and take action if they are attacked along the line or in popular trail stops.
She also wants more action to be taken to clamp down on the problem and help make the popular route safe for local people.
Jo, 33, said she was left feeling ‘humiliated’ after the assault, which occurred when she was on her walk home from the village train station one Saturday evening last month, the busiest time of the trail .
She said: “I got off the train at around 8pm and walked down the slope past a line of about 25 people who were queuing up to take the train to Marsden to continue the ale trail.
“Suddenly, one man grabbed my breast as I passed and started laughing.
“I was mortified and told him off but no one else in the queue came to help. They all thought it was really funny and told me to calm down.
“In no way was it funny. It was sexual assault and it has made me so furious because everyone should have the right to be able to go about their life without being touched.
“I have avoided the area in the past when the ale trail is in full flow but people shouldn’t have to do that.”
She alerted security staff at the bottom of the lane and later reported the attack to British Transport Police, who are now investigating the case.
Jo said: “At first I felt too embarrassed to contact them but realised I shouldn’t feel like that at all because it wasn’t my fault.
“BTP have taken this really seriously which is good but I know that attacks like this aren’t a one off occurrence on the line.
“People can sometimes be frightened of reporting incidents straight away but they shouldn’t be and doing so helps ensure that police continue to be given resources to help them patrol the line.
“Those on the trail should have to wait in a separate area so that local people don’t have to walk so close to them.”
She is just one of dozens of people who have said they have had similar incidents or felt threatened by revellers along the route, including members of Slaithwaite youth club, The Basement, who highlighted their concerns at the last public ale trail meeting.
Colne Valley councillor, Donna Bellamy, said: “This is the first time that I have been made aware of a sexual assault but have had lots of reports of anti social behaviour.
“I think it is absolutely disgusting and these incidents shouldn’t be happening.
“Someone being too drunk does not warrant this sort of behaviour.
“We will be holding more action days with BTP, West Yorkshire Police and others during the summer but would urge anyone who has an experience like Jo contacts the police as soon as possible.”
BTP inspector, Gary Ashbridge, whose team has been patrolling affected stations and trains along the route since 2011 and works with rail companies and local communities to minimise ale trail problems, said: “We are aware of the recent report of inappropriate sexual touching at Slaithwaite station. We take incidents of this nature very seriously and we have launched a full investigation.
“There are a few whose behaviour, whether fuelled by alcohol or not, is unacceptable and we will not hesitate in taking action against anyone who commits a crime or behaves in a problematic manner.
“While crime is not a big problem, with only a few offences recorded, anti social and dangerous behaviour of some of the revellers can be, although over recent years we have seen this improve. The good news is that offences have reduced on the route by 31% since 2012.
“We want people to have a good time on the Real Ale Trail but we also want to make sure that they people continue to stay safe and treat rail staff and other passengers on these services with respect.”
