A woman has spoken out about how she can no longer return to a park she once loved after being raped there in broad daylight this summer.
Amanda Quiney was attacked at Sandwell Valley Park on 29 June in what has been a life-changing ordeal. She has now gone public with her story, hoping that someone in the community might have information that could help police catch the person responsible.
Sandwell Valley Park is a popular green space in the West Midlands, regularly visited by families, dog walkers and joggers. For Amanda, it was somewhere she felt comfortable and familiar. That has all changed now.
“I can never go back there,” she said, describing how the attack has stripped away her sense of safety and left her unable to visit a place that once brought her joy.
Speaking out after a sexual assault takes enormous courage, and Amanda has made clear that her decision to go public is driven by one thing above all else. She wants justice. She believes someone out there knows something, whether they were in the park that day, noticed something unusual, or have information about who carried out the attack.
West Midlands Police are continuing to investigate the incident. The attack took place in an area that would typically see regular foot traffic during the summer months, raising hopes that a witness may have been present or nearby without realising what they had seen.
Sexual violence charities have long highlighted how attacks in public spaces can have a devastating impact beyond the immediate trauma. Victims often find themselves avoiding entire areas, changing their daily routines, and struggling with feelings of fear in places they previously felt free. Amanda’s experience reflects exactly that reality.
Anyone who was in Sandwell Valley Park on 29 June and saw anything out of the ordinary is being urged to come forward and contact police. Even small details that might seem insignificant could prove vital to the investigation.
If you have information, contact West Midlands Police directly or reach out anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.