Woman fights off ‘aggressive drunk’ who forced his way into cubicle in pub toilet

A woman has been left angered and shaken after an “aggressive” man forced his way into her toilet cubicle at an East London pub.

On Saturday, November 13, Francesca Stracqualursi, 42, spent the evening at Truman’s Social Club, a popular beer hall and microbrewery in Walthamstow.

Francesca was enjoying her evening accompanied by her husband and two friends, and at around midnight as the night was drawing to a close she went to the toilet.

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“Several of the cubicles were available, and I saw a man standing outside one of the cubicles,” Francesca told MyLondon.

“I didn’t really think anything of it – I assumed he was talking to a friend who was inside the toilet or waiting for his girlfriend.

“I went to the loo and somebody started knocking and knocking on the door. I hurried up and opened the door.

“He pushed himself inside the cubicle with me and closed the door behind him.”

Francesca was left shaken by the incident but was relieved that the police and the pub responded well

Francesca said she was utterly panic-stricken and immediately imagined what might happen if she wasn’t able to escape.

Luckily, the man was drunk so Francesca was able to push him away and escape the situation. She ran straight to the bar and reported the incident to the staff.

“By the time I went back with security, there were two women chatting at the sink about how a guy had just tried to get into one of their cubicles,” Francesca explained.

“At that point I just wanted to go home – I’d had enough.”

Francesca said she was impressed by how quickly the Truman’s Social Club staff dealt with the issue, and that the man was promptly ejected from the venue.

Although the perpetrator was intoxicated, Francesca said she does not believe this is the main issue: “I don’t want to put the emphasis on drinking, because the drunkenness isn’t the problem. The problem is being a sex pest.

“People get drunk all the time and don’t harass and intimidate women.”

Francesca continued: “I think as a woman you always question yourself – you think, ‘Am I overreacting? Am I making too much of a big deal out of this?’ But I shouldn’t be doubting myself.”

Francesca was able to push her way out of the cubicle though the man tried to shut the door behind him

Francesca was able to push her way out of the cubicle though the man tried to shut the door behind him

To add to Francesca’s fear, as she was leaving the bar she saw the man ahead of her in the street with his friends.

“I was thinking, ‘Thank god that I went out with my husband and my male friends and I am not walking home by myself.’

“What world do we live in that I have to be grateful that I’m out with my husband instead of by myself? It feels like such a step back.”

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Francesca spoke to the police and said they will be taking a formal statement from her tomorrow (Wednesday, November 17): “I used the online reporting tool and they called me within the next 15 minutes. They said what had occurred was a very serious crime.”

A spokesperson from Truman’s Social Club said: “Our front of house team and security team responded to this incident in a swift, professional and appropriate manner in accordance with the processes and protocols we have in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all our guests and team members.

“Since the incident we have spoken with the affected individual and the police and we will continue to provide any support to them which they might require.

“The safety and wellbeing of all our guests is paramount and we are confident that we have all necessary measures in place to ensure this.”

If you’ve been affected by a similar issue, feel free to email [email protected] to have your voice heard

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https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/woman-fights-aggressive-drunk-who-22184768

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