We were attacked by night club prowlers on A Level results trip in Spain & Turkey – holidays for women just aren’t safe
IT’S a tradition that’s spanned more than three decades.
In fact, the post exam results holiday abroad – often the first holiday kids take away from their parents – has become somewhat a rite of passage for British teens.
But horrifyingly, it seems these trips are becoming less and less safe, with an increase of attacks in the paradisaical resorts.
Sarah* was one of many A-level students to book a trip abroad to celebrate the end of her exams, but just 48 hours into her stay in Benidorm, her world would come crashing down.
The now 20-year-old was assaulted last summer as she visited a nightclub at the popular tourist destination, which is visited by 800,000 Brits a year.
The club was packed so I went to move away thinking it was my fault but felt a hand under my skirt trying to get inside my underwear.
Sarah
Sarah explains how excited she had been for the holiday, which she had planned months in advance.
“I had everything planned and had picked outfits for each day and nights,” says the physiotherapy student.
“I went with my best friend from college and we were so excited.”
The pair got dressed up and went to a night club on the Benidorm strip on their second night of the trip.
“We were on the dancefloor when I felt someone push up behind me,” Sarah recalled.
“The club was packed so I went to move away thinking it was my fault but felt a hand under my skirt trying to get inside my underwear.”
Shocked at the violation, Sarah immediately ran to the club’s bathroom.
“I was wearing a short skirt but not once did I even think someone would attempt to put their hand on me,” she said.
“I knew I wasn’t imagining it but I wanted to get to the bathroom to check I was OK.
“The last place I wanted to be was still on the dance floor.”
But while her intention was to remove herself from danger, the man who had attempted to violate her followed her into the bathroom.
“Each toilet was a single cubicle, there weren’t men’s and women’s but when I got into one and went to close the door behind me, he pushed his way in and closed it behind him,” said Sarah.
“It was a tiny cubicle and he pinned me by my shoulders against the side of the toilet. I was in shock and didn’t know what to do.”
Sarah’s perpetrator continued to lift her skirt and put his hand inside her underwear before she was able to fight him off and get free.
His body weight felt really heavy against me but I pushed as hard as I could, I was able to get out.
Sarah
“He hadn’t locked the door and while it was all over in a split second, in another way it felt like it went on for hours,” she recalled.
“His body weight felt really heavy pushed up against me but I pushed as hard as I could and when it sent him off balance backwards, I was able to open the cubicle door and get out.”
She remembered being “in floods of tears” but still managed to make her way out of the club and onto the street.
“I was sobbing but no one asked me if I was OK so I made my way back to our hotel,” she explained.
Sarah’s experience unfortunately isn’t unfamiliar for female tourists abroad.
In 2023, 42 cases of sexual assault, including rape, were reported to British consular staff in Turkey.
Another Brit was raped in Magaluf earlier this month after becoming separated from her friends.
And just last month a bar manager in Majorca was arrested on suspicion of raping a 19-year old British tourist.
Sarah called her friend once she was outside the club and despite her pal begging her to report the incident to the police, she refused.
“It was so dark in the club and yes, I’d had some shots,” she recalled tearfully.
“I know I did nothing wrong, I hadn’t even spoken to the guy who attacked me.
“But I was a little bit tipsy and with the dark lighting, I didn’t think I could recognise him for certain if police asked me to identify him.”
She said all she remembered about the man was that he was tall with dark hair, adding that she had “no idea where he was from” since he never spoke.
The incident two nights into Sarah’s holiday not only ruined the rest of her trip but also left her with nightmares and fears back at home in Exeter, Devon.
I never wore a short skirt again, I have no idea why he targeted me.
Sarah
“I spent the rest of the holiday not wanting to go out in the evening, I was terrified he knew where we were staying and scared if I went out he’d find me and attack me again,” she said.
“I was able to go for dinner with my friend in the evenings but would always come back to the hotel afterwards and I never wore a short skirt again.”
Since coming back from holiday, Sarah said she has begun to dress more conservatively and has stopped drinking.
“I know I shouldn’t blame myself but I have no idea why he targeted me. Was it something I did?” she said.
“I’ve had nightmares where I relive what happened only in my nightmares, the attack doesn’t stop.”
MARMARIS ATTACK
Lizzy*, 23, from Edgbaston, West Midlands was on holiday in Marmaris, Turkey when she was attacked by two men.
“I’d been out in the evening with my friends and we’d walked back to our apartment,” the receptionist recalled.
“There was a lot of people on the street and I got separated from them.
“I wasn’t worried at first because I knew my way back and I hadn’t been drinking.”
However, the seemingly safe route home turned dangerous for Lizzy when she was dragged off the main street.
“As I was walking along two men came up, one beside me and one behind me and they pulled me into a little alleyway type place we were going past,” she said.
“One of them had their hand on my waist from behind and the other one was in front of me and tried to kiss me.
“They didn’t speak English and when I tried to turn my head, the one from behind held it in place.”
She described her struggle to free herself as both men held on to her arms.
“I was trying to push them away but they had four hands and I only had two so no matter how I was pushing, there were other hands on me,” Lizzy explained.
With one attacker forcing his mouth on hers, she couldn’t even scream for help.
One or both of them had their hand up my dress.
Lizzy
“The second he broke away I screamed as loud as I could and I think it scared them as I was able to kick one and get back out onto the main street.”
Crying, Lizzy was able to adjust her clothing and ran away from the scene to try and find her friends.
“My bra was still done up but they’d moved it and one or both of them had had their hand up my dress,” she recalled.
“When I got back to my apartment, my friends were worried sick.
“They suggested going out and looking for the men and calling the police but I just wanted to forget it.”
While she said the attack “probably only lasted less than a minute” Lizzy said it “felt like it went on for hours” and said it changed her completely.
I couldn’t do anything, no matter how hard I tried to push the hands away, more were there.
Lizzy
“I’m really nervous about being on my own and being separated from my friends now. I don’t go out as much as I used to either,” she said.
“I was staggered at how quickly everything went from being completely fine to being attacked.
“I could hear the bustle of the street just metres away but I couldn’t do anything, no matter how hard I tried to push the hands away, more were there.”
While Lizzy has become teetotal since her attack – personal trainer and women’s safety expert Anna Somma explained that there are plenty things women can do to stay safe on holiday.
“Firstly, trust your gut instinct. If something feels unsafe, don’t do it,” she advised.
Most dangerous European holiday spots for sexual assaults
Legally, the definition of rape and sexual assault differs in each country, making compartive data more difficult to calculate.
The following European countries have been ranked the highest in sex crimes including rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking:
- Bulgaria
- Estonia
- Sweden
- France
“If an invite to a club or pub feels risky, say no.
“Next, never leave your drink unattended. As many as 43,000 people a year have their drink spiked and 80 percent happens in a public place.
“So always have it in your hand and if you’re not allowed on the dance floor with it, wait until you’ve finished it to dance.”
She also recommended dressing “appropriately for your location.
“Not all countries are as liberal as the UK so make sure you observe what the locals wear and dress in a similar way,” Anna explained.
“Don’t walk alone at night, and don’t let friends do it either.
“There’s safety in numbers for women so if one of you is leaving the club or bar, all leave.
“The rest of you can go back if you want to once your friend is safe at home.”
She also emphasised the importance of keeping in contact with your friends and family and sharing your location.
“Make sure your phone is charged fully before you go out and take a portable charger with you,” she said.
“Carry cash too so no matter what you can get a taxi if you need to.
“Know the emergency numbers for the country you’re going to too, specifically police and ambulance.
“Make sure your friends or someone at home knows where you are the whole time too.
“Whether it’s day trips or nights out make sure someone can account for your location at all times.”
Rape crisis helpline information
If you have experienced an incident of sexual assault, the following helplines are available within the UK:
- National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 500 2222
- Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02
- Survivor’s Network: 01273 720 110
- Brighton Women’s Centre: 01273 698 036
- Women and Girls Network Ascent Helpline: 0808 801 0660
- Safeline: 0808 800 5008
- The Rape and Abuse Line: 0808 800 0123
Anna also highlighted the potential danger of meeting somebody online no matter where you are in the world.
“Dating apps on holiday are increasingly popular, if you’re using them make sure you apply the same rules as at home – meet in public places and don’t have anyone come to your apartment or hotel.”
Both Sarah and Lizzy haven’t been away with friends since their attacks and Sarah has even started self defence classes for her own peace of mind.
“It shouldn’t be up to women to change how we dress or act to stay safe,” said Sarah.
“The onus should be on men to leave us alone, but unfortunately we don’t live in a world like that.
“What happened to me has completely changed who I am, I’m nowhere near as outgoing or friendly as I was and I get nervous if I’m around a lot of men I don’t know.
“I hate how violated I felt, I know things could have been an awful lot worse than they were but every second of the attack felt like it went on forever.”
*Name has been changed