WOMEN say they feel unsafe on Dorset's streets at night time, following the sentencing of former police officer Wayne Couzens convicted in the murder of Sarah Everard.

Yesterday Couzens was handed a whole-life sentence for the “devastating, tragic and wholly brutal” murder of Sarah Everard.

Couzens, who was a Metropolitan Police officer at the time, showed his warrant card before abducting Ms Everard on March 3 on the streets of London.

In the wake of the sentence, we asked women to share their views on whether they feel safe on Dorset's streets.

One Weymouth mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "In light of the tragic deaths of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa this year, I am now living in a state of fear on a daily basis. "Not just for my own welfare, but for my children, especially my teenage daughter. What kind of world are we living in when women and young girls are feeling too scared to carry on with their normal day-to-day routines due to the increase in cases of sexual harassment, threatening behaviour and/or stalking?"

She added: "My daughter walks alongside me when we go shopping, during daylight hours, as she feels uncomfortable with some men looking at her, and/or worries about the risks of being a female in today's society. The Government needs to take action to address these issues with a view to taking the necessary action to implement preventative measures, ie. non-molestation orders, that seek to keep women and young girls safe."

Weymouth town councillor Tia Roos said: "I used to feel much safer than I do today. After the couple of sexual assaults recently in town and in Lodmoor country park I feel less safe even walking during the day or going for a run.

There is no such thing as relaxing and letting go on a girls night out."

Recently reported incidents include rape and sexual assault of two 16 year-old girls on Weymouth Beach in August, and a reported late-night attack in a Dorchester town centre alleyway, also in August. Investigations continue.

In the east of the county, Poole resident Lauren Nolan said she felt "on edge" walking just a short way home from dinner on Wednesday evening. "I didn't put my music on and I messaged my husband to say I was nearly home so he'd be expecting me," she added.

"There were a couple of guys shouting at each other outside the pub so I walked as fast as I could without actually running. "Sadly I think most women feel this way at night, in London or Dorset. Anywhere. All of my girl friends feel this way, and I think it's important that your male readers know that we worry about our safety just simply walking home."

A Weymouth woman said: "On one occasion I witnessed very drunk men circle a paralytic woman like predators. The young woman did some sort of play dance in front of them under a ‘cat call’ (although her face clearly revealed how uncomfortable she actually felt). The men then started grabbing her breasts and slapping her behind - whilst all laughing and nodding at each other.

"I stepped in and protected. I was immediately verbally abused by the men in the most vitriolic way you can imagine, mocked laughed at, and called a plethora of offensive names. The only saving grace was that one of the men was clearly uncomfortable at this ‘pack mind’ sexual abuse behaviour. If only he’d called it out."

Another Dorset woman, Lesley Saunders, added: "I don't dare go out alone any more."
Another, Karin Snellock said: "I think lots of men also feel vulnerable in dark, quiet places, not in a sexual context but in case they are robbed or just beaten up for fun. The world is a much nastier place for everyone than it used to be." 

Yesterday Dorset Police issued a statement in a bid to reassure the public after Wayne Couzens was sentenced.

Deputy Chief Constable de Reya said: “Our job is to police communities with compassion and keep the public safe and we do it because we care about people.

“Policing both locally and nationally will do everything it can, including being part of the wider discussion taking place in society today, so that women and girls feel safe on their own streets.”