Brave teenage girl fights off carjacker who punched her

Alexandria Everett today spoke of her terror after being attacked as she returned home from a friend’s house on Monday night by a man who tried to make off with her car.

The man punched the petite 19-year-old twice in the face, bursting her lip and causing cuts and bruises, but she still resisted his attempts to grab the keys to her Nissan.

The thug eventually had to give up and flee empty-handed after being spooked by a distant siren.

Miss Everett, a nightclub worker, told of how she foiled the attack, despite being just over five feet tall.

The attack took place as she parked up near her home in Pitt Street just after 9pm.

“It’s always really busy with cars around here so at certain times I have to park quite a bit away from my flat,” she said.

“It’s quite deserted at that bit, and as I got out my car I went into the back to get my door keys, and just felt this punch to the side of my head.

“I was completely stunned and heard him say to give him my keys. When I didn’t, he punched me again really hard on the mouth.

“Then there were some sirens in the distance, they were quite loud, but it was probably an ambulance, and that seemed to scare him and he ran away.

“At that point I just sat in my car with the doors locked for a bit, scared to get out, then thought it would probably be best just to get to my flat as soon as possible.”

Police are appealing for information on the attacker, who is described as black, in his late 20s with a skinny build and a Scottish accent.

He was wearing a dark beanie hat, dark jeans and a black jacket with white lettering on the left side of the chest.

After he attempted to steal the Nissan Primera, he made off towards South Fort Street.

“I’m scared to go back to my car now,” added Miss Everett, who moved to the Capital from Essex in May.

“I think it was a random thing, he obviously just wanted my car. There was no way he was getting my keys.

“But it was dark and late, no-one around, I do wonder what would have happened if it hadn’t been for those sirens.”

Despite only living in Edinburgh for six months, it is the second time she has been attacked.

Earlier this year she was assaulted by a group of girls in the city centre as she tried to make her way to work. “I’m still glad I moved here, it’s been fine apart from that,” she said.

A police spokesman said: “Fortunately she was not seriously injured during the attack.

“We are now keen to speak to anyone who was in or around Pitt Street at 9.15pm and saw anything suspicious.

“Similarly, anyone who recognises the man’s description or who has any other information that can assist with our inquiries should contact police.”

Phone police on 0131-311 3131 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.