Woman attacked by man in her own home over Facebook marketplace dispute

The 25-year-old, who has asked to remain anonymous, had bought a sofa from Facebook marketplace and hired a ‘man with a van’ to collect it and deliver it to her home on the Scotch Estate on Thursday, March 4.

Having been to the bank to transfer the funds for the sofa to the seller, she said the man she had hired wouldn’t set off from the seller’s address until the money had arrived – despite the seller being happy with a photographic copy of the receipt.

It meant the man arrived later than scheduled and demanded the victim pay additional money for his time, she said.

"When he got here he told me he didn’t want £40 like we agreed but he wanted £60 which I told him I didn’t have that much cash in the house,” said the 25-year-old.

"He grabbed me by my hair and threw me to the ground and I hit my head on the radiator.

"I managed to find some extra change and I gave him £47.

"He left shouting insults after he assaulted me in my own home.”

She says the man was aggressive from the start and entered her home with such force her door came off the hinges.

"It was horrible. I really thought he was going to beat me up in my own home,” she added.

"His friend was waiting in the van and I was worried he would come in too.

"He was absolutely massive compared to me and he knew he could intimidate me.

"I want to warn others because I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

The woman contacted Northumbria Police and an investigation has been launched.

A force spokesperson said: “Shortly after 12.30pm on Thursday we received a report of an assault at an address in South Tyneside.

“It was reported that a woman had been assaulted following a disagreement with a man who she had hired to deliver items to her house.

“An investigation has been launched into the incident.”

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