A woman who had a "machete to her neck" while at work has been left with "severe" PTSD and unable to go near men.
Cassandra Tainsh, who lives in Beeston, says she was working at an EE store in Leeds on September 25, 2021 when she was held at gunpoint by four men in balaclavas. The men allegedly grabbed her hair, before throwing her on the ground, and breaking her ribs.
After the incident Cassandra left EE and now works as a reptile and invertebrate specialist in Sheffield. And while she is happy in her job, the terror has left the 29-year-old suffering with "daily" panic attacks, and nervousness around men.
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Cassandra confirmed that West Yorkshire Police were informed about the incident, but no further updates have been issued about the investigation.
Speaking about the incident, she said: "I was serving a customer when four men in balaclavas and gloves raided the shop. Unfortunately I never saw them enter.
"One ran up and grabbed my hair, before throwing me on the ground and breaking my ribs. They then dragged me a few feet across the ground by my hair and held a machete to my throat.
"They then spun me around and threw me onto my front before they continued to raid the shop for three minutes while all exits were blocked."
The terrifying ordeal has left Cassandra with daily struggles. She confessed that even going to the gym alone now is a challenge.
"I flinch constantly now and I have panic attacks regularly. I have to warn people not to touch my back. I don't like men being too close to me or approaching me.
"I had a lovely man run up to me and just tap me on my shoulder to say he liked my make up and I cried and had to go home. I can’t have a black handle knife near me, the sound of running towards me makes me run , or curl up into a ball on the ground.
"Unfortunately I have PTSD and a fear of men due to being aggressively attacked. I really want to join a gym and I'm looking for any girls in the Beeston area to join me and we can all go together."
Thankfully the Beeston resident has found a group of women who will go to the gym with her so she feels more safe.
