It was a mild autumn night when Julie Boathe woke up to a large man crawling into her bed.
Paralysed with fear, she pleaded with him to leave her alone, and tried to fight back - but was easily overpowered by the aggressive stranger.
She said: "I said please, please don't come in, please stay out there, just leave. He just wouldn't go. I was trying to push him away, but he was such a big guy. I just had to scream for help."
READ MORE: Sefton Council push for investigation into Bootle toddler flats fall
It was a scene out of a nightmare - but for Julie, and thousands of other homeless women living on the streets today, the horrifying experience remains all too common.
Julie, 43, was resting inside her tent outside St John's Shopping Centre, opposite Lime Street Station, at around 8.20pm on Sunday, October 2, when she was attacked by the unknown man.
She said: "I thought he was just being friendly at first, when he put his head in. I said I was fine. The next moment, he was on his hands and knees trying to push his way in.
"It frightened me. I can't get it out of my head. I still can't believe it happened. I wonder, if nobody came, what would have happened to me? That's what I ask myself over and over. What would he have done to me?"
Reporter Wesley Holmes witnessed the scenes, and explains how he sought to help:
I heard Julie before I saw her as I walked past the shopping centre - a woman's voice screaming "help!" and "leave me alone". I stopped and noticed the shaking tent, with a man's lower half sticking out the door as he tried to force his way inside.
In that moment, the option of not being involved did not exist. I was already involved, whether I liked it or not, by the very fact that I was a witness. Therefore, only two real options presented themselves: ignore the situation, or act.
I ran over, and shouted "leave her alone", followed by "what did you do to her?" as the man shuffled backwards with a furious look on his face. Quite quickly I gathered some idea of how things might progress, as his aggression towards the woman coming out of the tent behind him was turned on me instead.
I put my arm up like a barrier as he advanced on me, red-faced, swearing. By now, the scene had caught the attention of two more passers-by, both young men, who tried to calm the man down - with little effect.
Briefly it looked like things might get violent, and I thought about removing my glasses. But fortunately, after lingering for a few minutes, he departed in the direction of St George's Hall, swearing and slurring, and did not return. The two young men also left, and I called the police and waited with Julie for nearly 40 minutes until her boyfriend returned and she felt safe to be left on her own.
The following night, I returned to Lime Street to check on Julie as she listened to music inside her tent. I asked her if the police showed up after I left. She said they had, but not until that morning.
Police today urged people who witnessed the incident to come forward.
When it comes to gendered violence, homeless women are among the most at-risk - and most overlooked - demographic. A 2018 study by the St Mungo Community Housing Association, a homeless charity, found that "women’s experiences of sleeping rough are horrendous, often including sexual abuse, violence and stigmatisation."
Official statistics released in February 2022 found that, out of the 2,440 people estimated to be sleeping rough in the UK, just 320 were women (13%). But St Mungo's says this number is likely to be much higher, as homeless women will often take greater measures to hide themselves due to fear of being assaulted.
It is estimated that three in 10 female rough sleepers have experienced sexual violence at some point while homeless.
Michelle Langan, founder of the Paper Cup Project, which provides local rough sleepers with food, clothing, support and guidance, said: "We always worry about the women because they are in a much more vulnerable position. Only last week I was in town and I saw a man throw a full cup of coffee over a homeless lady who was just asleep on the floor. She wasn't even shocked by it. If that happened to anyone else, they'd be horrified, but they're used to this kind of abuse. It's how they expect to be treated, which is awful.
"I think both homeless men and women definitely face risks. But women are a lot more vulnerable because they don't have the strength to fight back. Some of the homeless women we know have dogs because having a dog, they're less likely to be approached. There's not really much else they can do, other than try to not be on their own.
"They are vulnerable because they have nothing. They have no one to tell. They're not going to fight back. They're probably not going to take action. That's why these people target them. They know they're not going to get into trouble."
Tragically, many women who find themselves on the streets are no strangers to gendered violence. According to St Mungo's and SafeLives, the UK domestic abuse charity, around 32% of homeless women said domestic abuse contributed to their homelessness.
Julie has lived on the streets of Liverpool with her boyfriend, Lee Wells, for eight months after Lee's grandparents, who they used to live with, had to sell their home and move into supported living accommodation.
She said: "You can't sleep properly on the streets. You might go to sleep, but you're still aware of the things around you. I can't remember the last time I had a proper sleep.
"When something like that happens, I understand that people don't want to get involved. But it shouldn't be happening."
Michelle said: "We have seen a lot of stigma towards homeless people. There's the idea they're all drunks or drug addicts, and that isn't always true. It doesn't give someone the right to attack them, but I think in some people's minds it does. In their minds, they're doing it to someone who is worthless. It doesn't matter if they attack that person, because it's justified. They deserve it."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that officers are investigating following an incident in Liverpool city centre on Sunday, October 2.
"At around 8.20pm, we were called to Market Way, St Johns Precinct to reports of a man trying to push his way into the tent of a homeless woman.
"Members of the public intervened and the man ran off towards Queen Square. The woman was distressed but uninjured.
"The man was described as white, 5ft 8in tall, of large build, in his 40s, with short blonde hair, wearing a grey or white hoodie.
"If you saw the incident please contact us @MerPolCC with reference 22000729721."
READ MORE
Face of kidnapper who was stabbed after abducting 12-year-old boy
Port of Liverpool redundancies planned as bosses say market sees 'significant decline in volume'
Liverpool DJ will 'keep sounds moving from above' after tragic death
Martin Lewis explains when to use your washing machine amid energy blackout warning
UFC star Paddy Pimblett issues request to fans before agreeing to take a photo
