Drugging Women and Rape Happen EVERYWHERE
A CUMBRIAN teenager was raped by two men on the Thai island where backpacker Katherine Horton was murdered.
Three weeks after the New Year’s Day murder, Corrie-Anne Holt, an 1
8-year-old student nurse from Curthwaite, near Wigton, says she was drugged and dragged out of a bar in front of police before being physically attacked on the holiday island of Koh Samui. Officers have also bungled forensic tests that may have helped catch the offenders, Miss Holt claims.
The teenager, who has fought cancer twice, has waived the right to anonymity granted to rape victims in the UK to warn others about the dangers of the island. She told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m lucky to be alive. If two men can carry someone out of a crowded club in front of police, then no-one is safe.
Three weeks after the New Year’s Day murder, Corrie-Anne Holt, an 1
8-year-old student nurse from Curthwaite, near Wigton, says she was drugged and dragged out of a bar in front of police before being physically attacked on the holiday island of Koh Samui. Officers have also bungled forensic tests that may have helped catch the offenders, Miss Holt claims.She also accuses Thai officials of being more interested in protecting the area’s reputation as a tourist haven than in catching her attackers.
The teenager, who has fought cancer twice, has waived the right to anonymity granted to rape victims in the UK to warn others about the dangers of the island. She told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m lucky to be alive. If two men can carry someone out of a crowded club in front of police, then no-one is safe.
“Don’t go there. The police don’t care about you.”
The British Embassy was not informed of Miss Holt’s ordeal by Thai authorities. Diplomats were only alerted when Corrie-Anne’s father Edward phoned the Foreign Office in London. His daughter had called him in tears after the ordeal. An overseas crime liaison office is now said to be working with Thai officials.
A Foreign Office official has told Miss Holt she is the third British woman to be raped on the island in a month.
Miss Holt and her travelling companion and schoolfriend Dave Norman had arrived at Chawent Beach on January 21 and visited the Green Mango Bar. Miss Holt said: “It had CCTV cameras and police on the door. I felt I was safe. I bought a beer, Dave bought me one and a tequila.
“After the shot Dave went to the lavatory. The next thing I remember was being walked out of the club by two men. I felt as though I had no control. I don’t remember anything else until I came to in the middle of being raped.”
She said that was around 4.30am and she’d been missing since midnight. Miss Holt said the rapists were scared off by her screams. She said: “I was terrified. The beach was below high water level. If I had not come round I would’ve drowned. I started screaming for help and a Thai woman heard me.”
Miss Holt says she was examined by a male doctor and then taken to a police station to give a statement. She wanted to change her clothes, take a shower and call home but says officers would not let her.
The Thai authorities say they have done all they can.
PART II:
Corrie-Anne Holt has vowed to continue her trip around the world after she says she was dragged from a nightclub and raped by two men on the Thai island where Katherine Horton was murdered. Corrie-Anne, 18, from Curthwaite near Wigton was back at home yesterday following her ordeal.
She has waived the right to anonymity granted to rape victims in the UK after being told she was the third British girl to be raped on the island in a month. She wants to warn other holiday-makers of the dangers.
Mum Kirsty, who is caring for her daughter who has twice battled cancer, said: “Corrie was determined to let other people know what happened to her. We were so angry that this could happen after everything she has been through. We are grateful she is alive.”
Corrie-Anne blacked out in a nightclub on the island of Koh Samui and came to hours later on a deserted beach as the men attacked her.
The former Caldew School pupil was days into a round-the-world adventure on January 21 when the attack happened.
When taken to a police station, she said officers tried to persuade her not to press charges because it would harm tourism and they refused to allow her to contact the British Embassy or her family.
Corrie-Anne was travelling with a school friend during a gap year before starting nurse training at university. She added: “I was sober in the club and I was being really careful.”
She added: “This is not going to break me, I know I can get through it. I have got through cancer twice and I can get through this.” She hopes to continue her trip.
She has waived the right to anonymity granted to rape victims in the UK after being told she was the third British girl to be raped on the island in a month. She wants to warn other holiday-makers of the dangers.
Mum Kirsty, who is caring for her daughter who has twice battled cancer, said: “Corrie was determined to let other people know what happened to her. We were so angry that this could happen after everything she has been through. We are grateful she is alive.”
Corrie-Anne blacked out in a nightclub on the island of Koh Samui and came to hours later on a deserted beach as the men attacked her.
The former Caldew School pupil was days into a round-the-world adventure on January 21 when the attack happened.
When taken to a police station, she said officers tried to persuade her not to press charges because it would harm tourism and they refused to allow her to contact the British Embassy or her family.
Corrie-Anne was travelling with a school friend during a gap year before starting nurse training at university. She added: “I was sober in the club and I was being really careful.”
She added: “This is not going to break me, I know I can get through it. I have got through cancer twice and I can get through this.” She hopes to continue her trip.
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