Glasgow mum scared to leave home in her wheelchair after being sexually harassed at bus stop

Sara Ballentyne
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A Glasgow mum has been left scared to go out on her own after being sexually harassed while waiting for a bus on a busy city centre street.

Sara Ballentyne, from Pollok, had been waiting at Hope Street alone at around 10am on Saturday, August 21, after going on a shopping trip with husband Gordon and her mum. The 33-year-old says she was left 'terrified' and 'feeling helpless' as a male stranger repeatedly commented that he loved her and tried to kiss her - as members of the public watched on.

The mum-of-two, who is unable to travel with her family as her wheelchair can't fold, spoke to Glasgow Live about the incident: "There wasn't anything I could do and no one around me stepped in. I was on my own.

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"The man kept trying to grab me and trying to kiss me. I was just begging for the bus to come because I was so uncomfortable and felt like I couldn't get away from the guy.

"I was glad when it came, but then the guy said he would help me get on. He was still clinging to me.

Sara Ballentyne
Sara Ballentyne

"Luckily he didn't get on with me. The people on the bus who had witnessed it just gave me a sympathetic smile."

Sara, who only became a wheelchair user three years ago following an injury to her spine, says she has now lost confidence in going out on her own. She continued: "I feel a lot more unsafe going out on my own. I can't go by the place where it happened.

"Even going out with my husband now I'm scanning the streets. It has really damaged my confidence.

"I felt vulnerable in the wheelchair. For the longest time, I felt like I had the smallest amount of freedom.

"I felt confident because I felt like I was owning that I am a disabled young person and then that happened. Being a woman, things like that happen. That's the first time something like that has happened to me in the chair - so that made me feel even more enclosed.

"I used to go out on my own and get out of the house but I'm not doing that now. I don't want to be alone in the chair."

Sara, who can't walk more than a few steps, is now hoping to raise funds to buy a folding wheelchair which will allow her to travel in the car and to deal with the pain she experiences in her current powerchair. She hopes it will also allow her to do more activities with her kids.

She added: "It would mean I would be able to go places with my family and not travel alone. I can't get a taxi or go in a car because of the chair I have. It limits where and when I can go places because where I live public transport isn't good past 6pm.

"The other issue I have is with my tailbone and my current chair, I can't use a cushion so it is excruciating because I have to sit forward. It wasn't designed for my body shape.

"If I go out for the day I can be out of commission for a few days. But I push myself to the limit because I don't want my kids to miss out but it has an impact."

Sara has launched a GoFundMe in the hope of raising £1,000 for a second-hand replacement. Speaking about the fundraiser, she added: "There are so many good causes out there and I don't want to take away from any of them.

"But your support, no matter the amount, would mean the world to me and my family. With your help, I can finally start enjoying life again, without fear holding me back."

Anyone wishing to donate can do so here.

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