mitchy999 - I'm very sorry to hear this, and to hear how much stress and anxiety it has caused you! I can only hope that you won't let it get you down for long. It's particularly frightening to think that whoever did this felt safe enough to carry out his attack quite early in the eve -at 9.30pm there would usually still be quite a few people out and about in HOP, going to the restaurants, HOP scotch etc. I often come home on one of the last trains and have so far always felt quite safe (it was actually one of the reasons why I decided to stay in the area), but I guess that's because quite a few people tend to get off the train and walk home, and it's less busy (and feels less safe) if you walk to the station or bus stop late at night between train times after 10.30.

Since there have been a few reported cases of muggings near the station in the last 12 months according to this forum (the last few were on the stretch that comes down from One Tree Hill towards the station, as far as I remember), I wonder if there is any CCTV in the area in front of the station and looking down HOP parade near the zebra crossing? If not, it might help if they could install some there, although it won't cure the problem.

Lovely to hear that HOP residents helped out though!