Women afraid of walking alone to their cars at night can take advantage of a new, free escort service.

Martial arts instructor and former Policeman Tory Robinson is launching the service next week in light of a spate of physical and sexual attacks on women around the Island.

He runs martial art classes from The Olympic Club gym in Dundonald Street on a number of evenings in the week, and will ensure that any vulnerable female in the area will arrive at her destination safely.

Owner of the gym, Scott Stallard said he and the instructors were discussing how they could assist in the fight against attacks on women, and what practical steps they could take.

"We have a gym full of big guys and we have regular martial arts classes where people are trained in personal safety. We thought it was a good idea to use that,'' he said.

"So what we are doing is saying that if any woman is on her way back to her car, for example to Bulls Head car park, or Masters car park, and would like to be escorted while the classes are on, we will arrange it.

"It will only take five minutes, will be no trouble to us, and will ensure that women are not at risk in dark or lonely areas.

"Mr. Robinson will assign someone from his classes to do the escorting because that is exactly what they are trained to do.

"We don't know how popular it will be, but we wanted to do something and thought this might be of help.'' Gym offers free escort service Mr. Stallard said it did not matter whether women were customers of the gym or not.

If they are near to the gym and are heading towards their car, or to somewhere not too far away, they can stop at the gym and ask for a free escort.

Mr. Stallard said all of the escorts will be members of the classes and will be well known to Mr. Robinson.

Throughout April the classes run from 7.30 p.m. to 9 p.m., on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

However, from May 2, the classes will be held every weekday night right throughout the summer.

Concern for women grew towards the end of last year when the number of attacks on women began to become more frequent.

Between the end of August and Christmas, there were about 12 sexual or physical assaults on women around the Island, almost to the point of one attack, or more, every weekend.

Women were warned to take extra care and to avoid walking in unlit, lonely places, by themselves in the dark.

However, the rate of incidents slowed down after Christmas, and has not reached the same heights since.

CRIME CRM