Saturday, 20 Apr 2024

Women 'living in fear' after Bobbi-Anne McLeod, 18, 'snatched' & killed months after Sarah Everard & Sabina Nessa deaths

WOMEN say they are "living in fear" after a teen girl was allegedly snatched and killed just months after Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa's deaths.

Bobbi-Anne McLeod, 18, was last seen at a bus stop near her home in Plymouth at around 6.15pm on Saturday.

Two men aged 24 and 26 have been arrested on suspicion of murder after police searching for her found a body eight miles from where she vanished.

Terrified women have now spoken out following the horror as it emerged Bobbi-Anne may have been abducted and killed by a stranger.

Her disappearance comes just nine months after the brutal rape and murder of Sarah, 33, as she walked home in Clapham, South West London.

And in September, primary school teacher Sabina, 28, was attacked as she walked to a pub near her home in Kidbrooke, South East London.

Both killings sparked outrage as women said more needed to be done to protect them on Britain's streets.

Vigils were also held across the country to honour Sarah and Sabina as the "epidemic" of violence against women raged on.

But the Met Police were slammed for their heavy-handed approach to the marches as they clashed with protesters.

They also came under fire for “putting the onus on women to keep themselves safe” after releasing advice following Sarah's death at the hands of a police officer.

The force urged anyone who felt unsafe to "wave down a bus" if worried about a plain-clothed officer.

Women in Plymouth have now joined with the Reclaim These Streets movement to organise a vigil at Smeaton's Tower tonight at 6pm.

Charlotte Holloway, Labour council candidate for the Drake ward, has said there is "fresh anger" following Bobbi-Anne's killing.

She added: "Plymouth women can add getting a bus to the list of other things we can’t do without fear.

"We fear drink spiking and needle spiking, we can’t jog through parks at night… We can’t live our lives as men do."

While Cllr Sally Haydon, Plymouth Labour’s police and crime spokesperson, said a young girl "should be able to wait at a bus stop without losing her life".

She said: “Urgent action needs to be taken both at a national and local level to address the issues which mean we are seeing these terrible events happening at an alarming level across the country."

Several marches have now been organised to "reclaim the night" in protest against sexual violence after Bobbi-Anne's killing.

The organisers said: "It is not women and girl's responsibility to make themselves feel safe"

It comes as police today continue to quiz the two men arrested over Bobbi-Anne's killing.

Sources close to the family told The Sun they have no idea who the two suspects are.

It is understood police are investigating whether Bobbi-Anne was taken by a stranger off the street.

Cops are also attempting to establish how many people are involved in her disappearance and whether there was a sexual motive.

TRAGIC END

Bobbi-Anne's brother himself expressed fears she had been abducted while desperately appealing for information.

He said previously: "Someone has my f***ing sister".

Chilling details of Bobbi-Anne's final journey emerged yesterday after she left her home at 6pm to meet her boyfriend Louie Leach.

The teenager was last seen at a nearby bus stop 15 minutes later – with her headphones and a pouch of tobacco later discovered on grass nearby.

After she failed to meet with her boyfriend of six months, he raised the alarm.

His mother Adele told The Sun: “She was meant to see him at the time.

“Louie was at home, he was waiting for her.”

'DIDN'T DESERVE THIS'

He is now reportedly being comforted by Bobbi-Anne's heartbroken family and is said to be "crushed" by the tragedy.

Tributes have flooded in for the teenager led by her brother Lee.

He shared a touching childhood photo of the two of them beaming at the camera in their primary school uniforms.

Lee wrote: "Until we meet again sis. I love you.

"You didn't deserve this, such a beautiful and talented girl, and to have you as my little sister, the adventure and journey we had will always be treasured. Now go rest easy."

A GoFundMe page has now been launched to help her heartbroken family with funeral costs.

Anyone affected can visit End Violence Against Women, StreetSafe or the Suzy Lamplugh Trust








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