A local woman who was robbed at knifepoint has visited her attacker in prison to receive an apology from him as part of a restorative justice project.
Police offered 26-year-old Zoe Harrison the opportunity to meet 18-year-old Aaron Burns at Lancaster Farms prison in a bid to help her gain closure following her ordeal.
Restorative justice projects are designed to bring victims and offenders together to decide on a response to a particular crime. It not only gives victims the chance to move on by speaking to the offender about the incident and why it happened, but also encourages offenders to face up to their actions by hearing how their behaviour affected another person’s life.
Zoe had been walking through Lancaster in November last year when Burns grabbed her and held a knife to her throat, then repeatedly punched her in the face before taking her phone and handbag. He was later sentenced to 40 months in prison for the attack.
“I was not sure if I wanted to do it at first, but I wasn’t scared of him anymore and I wanted to know why he did it,” says Zoe. “I thought it would benefit me and other people too, because it might make him less likely to reoffend.
“I tried to plan what I was going to say, but I couldn’t think of anything,” she continues. “Then when I saw him I knew what I had to say.
“I asked him what was going through his head; why he had pulled out a knife because he could see I was already scared, why he had picked me. He didn’t know me from Adam when he did it. Now I know he wasn’t targeting me – I was just there at the wrong time.
“I feel better for venting my feelings at him, and for listening to what he had to say in return.
“He told me about the things he has been reflecting on and that he was sorry and wouldn’t do anything like this again. I hope that is true.
“After the attack, I was left with the memory of him covered in my blood, of me screaming,” Zoe recalls, “of him taking my bag and punching me.
“I thought that image in my head would never go away. Having seen him in prison, and as nervous as me, that image has now changed. I felt much better about it all now.”
Detective Sergeant Simon Coates, who organised the prison meeting, said: “Incidents like this are rare in Lancaster, so not surprisingly Zoe’s confidence was affected by it.
“The aftermath of the meeting has been very positive for her, and she feels as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She now feels she has closure and also that justice was done.
“The restorative justice meeting was carried out in connection with the probation service and the prison service. Burns was very remorseful for what he had done – so the meeting will also hopefully reduce the possibility of him reoffending when he is released. Restorative justice has previously been shown to have a positive effect in this way.
“When you are made to face up to your actions, and you actually get to see the devastating consequences they have had on another person’s life, then it should make you think twice about your future behaviour.”