A BRIT mum feared she was going to be raped after she was allegedly sexually assaulted on a family holiday in Turkey.
Dawn Sellwood, 53, told The Sun a worker allegedly groped her breast and “rubbed himself” on her back after separating her from a group during a quad bike trip.
A Brit mum alleges she was sexually assaulted by the man during a quad biking tripSupplied
Trip AdvisorDawn was staying at the four-star Ramada Resort By Wyndham Side in Turkey on a family holiday at the time[/caption]
SuppliedThe reception desk where Dawn says a man with a Love Holiday’s lanyard sold them tickets to the excursion[/caption]
The terrified woman feared she was going to be raped at the time of the alleged assault.
She alleges that two men managed to isolate her during the holiday excursion as one started asking her for sex on behalf of the second man.
Dawn claims he said his pal wanted to marry her before the man, who she believed was working on behalf of Love Holidays, started to inappropriately touch her.
The mum said she is sure that other women have been targeted by the same sick ploy in Turkey due to the men’s “confidence” and clearly thought out plan.
Dawn was on holiday with her husband and son in Turkey celebrating the teen’s 16th birthday when they signed up for a number of experiences.
The mum claims she was targeted by a group of alleged scammers after being sold tickets to excursions by a man inside their four star hotel – who claimed to be a Love Holidays rep.
I’ve no doubt in my mind, had I not known how to drive a quad bike, this chap would have raped me
Dawn Sellwood
Dawn told The Sun: “We booked this excursion, which was Whitewater Rafting, Jeep Safari, zip lining and finally quad biking.
“On the last part, everything was great, I was on the quad bike and so were my husband and my son.
“Within three minutes of going off on the buggy, the guide cut across me and said I had to get off because I was going too fast.
“He came over to me, he took the key out of the quad bike and told me to get on the back of his quad bike.
“I got on the back and within two or three minutes of this his quad bike ran out of fuel.”
Now separated from the group and her family, Dawn was forced to wait as another man came up with some fuel to refill the bike.
The mum-of-one alleges that one of the men then started to speak to her in a concerning manner.
Dawn said: “The chap that was putting the fuel in the car asked me if I wanted to have sex with his friend.
“I said, ‘what? I don’t understand’ and he just said, ‘you want to have sex with my friend?’.
“He started going backwards and forwards with his hips. And then I said no.”
The whole time, I thought he had an erection against my back, then he stood up and rubbed himself the whole length of my back while he was grabbing me
Dawn Sellwood
Left shocked by the disturbing offer, Dawn said things started to get worse as the other man came and sat behind her on the quad bike.
“He started saying to me, ‘you’re beautiful, I marry you’,” Dawn said.
“He then started groping my right breast and saying, ‘you want sex with me?’
“The whole time, I thought he had an erection against my back, then he stood up and rubbed himself the whole length of my back while he was grabbing me.”
At the time of the alleged assault on July 10, Dawn said all she could think about was making it back to the group and to her husband.
“They sectioned me out. It was a big setup,” she said.
Dawn claims she managed to get the man off the bike before taking off back towards her family who were now far off in the distance.
The brave mum said she was lucky to escape the horror ordeal.
“I’ve no doubt in my mind, had I not known how to drive a quad bike, this chap would have raped me,” she said.
“I’ve heard stories from other people, friends of friends, that similar things have happened in this group.
“So it’s obviously a massive problem with that excursion in Turkey but and I know I wasn’t the first he’d done it to because he was too confident.”
Dawn booked the excursion at the Ramada Resort By Wyndham Side hotel and alleges the family were told about the scheme by staff at reception.
After wanting to find out more they were greeted by a Turkish man inside the hotel who was wearing a Love Holidays lanyard, Dawn said.
How dare you think you can do that to English women? How dare you?
Dawn Sellwood
They were sold tickets and were excited for the activities alongside a group of other holidaymakers.
After the alleged assault took place and Dawn told her furious husband about what happened, they ordered staff at the hotel looked into the matter.
An argument broke out in the hotel between the Sellwood family and the staff and tour guides.
She said: “They all made out that the chap that assaulted me couldn’t speak English.
“And I said, you were speaking English when you asked me if I wanted sex and you wanted to marry me.”
Dawn then reported the incident to Love Holidays but she was told they have no reps in the hotel and don’t offer excursions.
The mum is convinced the excursion was a “scam” designed to target female tourists.
Back home in the UK, a still shaken Dawn sent a message to those involved in the alleged scheme.
She blasted them saying: “How dare you think you can do that to English women? How dare you?
“They come on a holiday and think its going to be nice, but you ruin it. How dare you? What gives you the right?”
I feel c**p. I just think, why did it happen to me? When it was supposed to be a good experience, a good holiday
Dawn Sellwood
Dawn said the whole ordeal has forced her to seek counselling.
She added: “I feel c**p. I just think, why did it happen to me? When it was supposed to be a good experience, a good holiday.
Speaking on Love Holidays, Dawn said: “When they’re told about these assaults, they should investigate it quicker and make sure that it doesn’t happen again.
“They need to put things in place so it won’t happen again.”
Messages between Dawn and Love Holidays, which have been seen by The Sun, show a full investigation into the incident was launched.
They went on to tell the distressed mum that the hotel “cannot be held liable for excursions booked outside the accommodation”.
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Police confirmed they have been in contact with Dawn after she reported the alleged assault on July 24.
A spokesperson told The Sun: “We are currently working with the International Liaison Enquiries Team on transferring the crime report over to the relevant authorities.”
A Love Holidays spokesperson said the representative who sold Dawn the excursion was “not employed by or affiliated with Love Holidays in any way”.
They said: “We were very sorry to hear of Ms Sellwood’s experience on her holiday and remain in touch with her to offer our support.
“We want to reiterate that both the representative who sold Ms Sellwood the excursion, and the excursion provider itself, are not employed by or affiliated with loveholidays in any way.
“We are continuing to investigate who these parties are with the hotel involved so the appropriate action can be taken to stop this from happening again.”
Where to get help
The 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line. Free, specialist and confidential support delivered by Rape Crisis England & Wales. Call 0808 500 2222 or visit https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk to chat online or find out more.
The Survivors Trust. Provides confidential information, advice and support for people who have experienced rape and sexual violence. Visit https://www.survivorsuk.org/ or call 0808 801 0818.
Victim Support. A charity that provides 24-hour free and confidential support to people affected by crime or traumatic events. Visit www.victimsupport.org.uk or call 0808 1689 111.