Woman too scared to jog after thrown firework hits her neck

A mum says she is too scared to go jogging alone again after being hit in the neck when a firework and an egg were thrown from a passing car.

Charlotte Wilde, 41, from Hartlebury, in Worcestershire, said she initially felt something hit her before being surrounded by sparks and hearing a loud bang at her feet.

The incident happened as she ran along Franche Road in Kidderminster at about 19:45 GMT on Bonfire Night. "I just feel really vulnerable," the mum-of-three said, adding: "I'm just scared someone's going to do it again."

West Mercia Police said the incident was "being investigated as an assault" and inquiries were ongoing.

Wilde said the incident had left her feeling that she would "never" go running alone again.

She said both a firework and an egg had been thrown from the vehicle but she was unsure which had struck her neck.

The teaching assistant had dropped her daughter off at a dance class and decided to use the opportunity to go for a run.

She said she had completed about 3km (1.86 miles) when the incident happened.

"It was really weird because something hit my neck and it felt cold and then I saw loads of sparks and a really, really loud bang at my feet," she explained.

"Having the sparks, I jumped around and it was just really frightening.

"I turned around and saw somebody hanging out of the window of this car laughing at me.

"I didn't know quite what had happened. I was really in shock."

Wilde said she had not even realised she was injured at the time but her neck soon began to sting.

"It was just stinging more and kind of throbbing," she said.

"I just didn't know what had happened. I looked around because I was looking for somebody to help me but instead I just got someone laughing at me."

Wilde reported the incident to police before returning to collect her daughter.

"The police station was closed so I rang 101," she said. "I walked on the phone, talking to the police, back to my daughter's dance class.

"Then I just broke down in tears."

The following morning, she said she still felt shaken by what had happened.

"I feel really upset and I feel really, 'why me?'. What did I do wrong? I was just out for a run.

"I don't really know anybody in Kidderminster, so it wouldn't have been anybody targeting me because I don't normally run round there.

"I don't know anybody. I feel embarrassed as well."

She continued: "Where I was running was really well lit. It's a really busy road. So I just assumed it would be perfectly safe.

"Whereas where I actually live, in Hartlebury, there's no street lights. It's pitch black and I think I actually feel safer not being seen running than I do being seen."

Although she was unable to get a clear look at the vehicle, she believes it may have been an older SUV-style car.

Wilde said the incident had also changed how safe she felt while outdoors and whether she wanted to continue training for her half marathon.

"I'm meant to be training for a half marathon, my first half marathon in April and I've been really good with my friends, running three or four times a week.

"Now I don't know if I can, I don't know if I want to, I really don't."

Wilde praised the response of her running club and those who had sent her support on social media.

"I'm part of a lovely group and I messaged them and I was like, 'Look, I'm never going to run without you guys ever again, because this has happened'.

"I just said how embarrassed I feel because I've been egged and I've had a firework thrown at me.

"They've all been really supportive of me and I've had loads of messages from the post that I put on Kidderminster Matters as well, from other run clubs saying I'm very welcome to come and join them.

"I think, unfortunately, they were just idiots and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police confirmed the force had received a report that a woman had been injured after a firework was thrown from a car.

"The firework and an egg were thrown from an SUV-type vehicle that was described as light brown or gold in colour. The victim sustained injuries to her neck.

"The incident is being investigated as an assault and inquiries are ongoing.

"Anyone with information, dashcam, doorbell or CCTV footage to support with the investigation is urged to contact police by calling 101.

"West Mercia Police run the Jog On initiative to tackle assaults and other perpetrator behaviour which creates barriers to women running."

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