A young woman walking home from work screamed for her life as she fought off a stranger in a balaclava who tried to snatch her off the street in a sickening kidnapping plot.
Harrowing video evidence played in court showed Cameron Boxall, 22, as he tried to drag the young woman into a stolen Mini Cooper before driving off.
The woman, aged 20, screamed ‘no’ repeatedly, before Boxall drove off with her hanging out of the passenger door.
Fearing for her life, she bravely fought against her attacker, punching out at him, until he kicked her out of the car. She was then assisted by passersby.
Boxall admitted kidnap and was today given an extended sentence of seven years at Brighton Crown Court.
In preparation for the offence, he had bought Marigold gloves from a corner shop, and footage from his police interview shows how he initially denied any wrongdoing.
And now his victim has bravely given permission for the full video of the horror abduction attempt to be published.
Boxall, then 21,was wearing a balaclava as he drove around Hove in the early hours of August 5, last year, before picking his victim and laying in wait for her.
Harrowing video evidence played in court showed Cameron Boxall, 22, as he tried to drag the young woman (left) into a stolen Mini Cooper before driving off
After luring in his victim by asking for directions, Boxall got out the car and grabbed her
Cameron Boxall, 22, was today given an extended sentence of seven years at Brighton Crown Court
He parked the stolen Mini – he had switched the number plates with another vehicle – at a street corner where he knew the young woman, who was local, would have to walk.
When she got near enough, he pretended to ask for directions. The court heard his plan was to draw her close enough to the car to grab her.
Gareth Burrows for the Crown said: ‘He had already identified her as his intended victim. The Mini was positioned to block her route. He called out to her.
‘He said; “Excuse me, I’m a bit lost, I’m looking for Brunswick Place, can you help me?”
‘His intention was to draw her close. He got out of the car, saying “Get in the f***ing car”. In the ensuing struggle, her bra broke.’
After being grabbed by Boxall, her head was pulled into the footwell of the Mini Cooper, Mr Burrows said.
Despite fighting for her life, she was dragged into the car and Boxall drove off with the door still open.
The prosecutor said: ‘The complainant saw the black Mini he was driving and noticed he was wearing a face covering. She said it seemed insignificant at the time.’
Boxall’s mum, sister and partner were in court to hear the screams of his victim.
Video played in court showed Boxall reversing into a parking space on a corner where he knows the woman he has identified as his victim will have to walk past.
As she approaches the car, he gets out and tries to force her in the passenger side. A doorbell camera captured her screams as she fought for her life.
Boxall grabbed his victim and dragged her into the car before driving off with her screaming
The sick plot was only foiled because his victim, aged just 20, fought back
Police were called to the scene (pictured) after the kidnapping was thwarted by the young woman punching her attacker until he let her go
Mr Burrows continued: ‘As he was driving away, he repeatedly attempted to close the door, causing her legs to be struck a number of times.
‘She was punching him in every manner she could and this likely thwarted his objective.
‘He pushed her out of the moving vehicle and she was found on the ground in a state of shock.’
Boxall tried to claim he wanted to rob the young woman to pay a drugs debt, the court heard. Her handbag was found untouched on the pavement where she was snatched.
Recorder Lucy Beaumont told Boxall: ‘The seriousness and impact of your offending cannot be understated.
‘The CCTV is hard to watch, imagining what was going through the victim’s mind at the time.’
In her victim impact statement, the young woman said she felt lucky to be alive.
‘What happened is still raw to me. I had to fight really hard against him. I had bruises and scratches on back, arms and legs from where he threw me out of the car and a massive lump on my head.
‘What happened has changed the way I view the world. I always thought Brighton was a safe place to live. I won’t go out on my own any more, I feel I’ve lost my freedom.
‘I understand it’s a one in a million chance it will happen again but even going out in the day I’m anxious.
‘I’ve not done anything wrong and did not deserve what happened to me.
‘I struggle to understand the level of violence he used against me and I feel lucky to be alive.’
Boxall drove the Mini away with the door open and the woman’s leg dangling outside of the car
After Boxall gave up and kicked her out of his car, the woman was helped by passersby who were seen supporting her and phoning emergency services
Her mother said the emotional trauma had profoundly disrupted the family.
‘The emotional aftermath has not been easy to overcome,’ she told police. ‘It has forever altered our lives in ways which go beyond the immediate harm.’
Boxall, formerly of Carden Hill, Brighton, admitted a charge of kidnap, theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle, driving without a licence, driving without insurance, making off without payment, and possession of cannabis.
Detective Sergeant Jack Sagar, from the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: ‘Boxall is a dangerous predator who preyed on a young woman innocently walking home, putting her through a horrific distressing ordeal, where she feared for her life.
‘We commend her for the immense strength and bravery she has shown throughout the incident and during our subsequent investigation. With the details she was able to provide, combined with our fast paced and intensive enquiries, we swiftly identified Boxall as the suspect and brought him into custody.
‘We built a strong evidential case which, when presented to the court, resulted in a guilty plea ensuring this dangerous violent offender has been caught and taken off the streets.’
Superintendent Petra Lazar, of Brighton and Hove Division, said: ‘Everyone has the right to feel safe and be safe in a public place.
‘We are fully committed to ensuring that is the case and work incredibly closely with partners to ensure a range of measures are in place to address vulnerability, tackle crime and provide reassurance.
‘Violence against women and girls will absolutely not be tolerated.
‘An incident such as this is appalling, and every effort will be made to bring offenders to justice and safeguard victims.’
Boxall was sentenced under new guidelines issued on April 1 this year.
He was jailed for five years with a two year extended sentence.
He will serve 2/3 of the custodial sentence in prison before he is eligible to apply for parole.
