Transwoman who 'scoured southern England for days for a woman to kidnap' before mowing down lone stranger in country lane blamed terrifying attack on gender transition

A trans woman who ran over, strangled and attempted to kidnap a lone female stranger has blamed the attack on gender transition.Safiya Anna Haverty, who was born Sean Haverty, targeted the stranger while she was out walking in the countryside after 'scouring southern England for days for a woman to kidnap'.Driving a white van, Haverty, 28, deliberately ploughed into the woman in her 50s, throwing her to the ground on Micheldever Road, Andover, on March 2.Haverty, who was jailed for 10 years today for the 'perfectly calculated attack', then dragged the victim towards the back of the van and strangled her to the point she thought she would die.Wearing a wig and hat as a disguise, it was clear Haverty 'intended something awful to happen' to the helpless woman, a judge said.But Haverty's brave victim managed to escape over a verge on the country lane as her attacker opened the van's door to pull her inside. She was then able to run up a nearby hill and flag down two cyclists and a dog walker who helped her.Haverty, meanwhile, got back in the van and chased the victim down the road before turning around and fleeing. Detectives were able to identify the kidnapper using CCTV footage of the van, which had captured the number plate.Haverty's barrister today claimed the transwoman had experienced mental health issues because of gender transitioning. Safiya Anna Haverty, who was born Sean Haverty, targeted the stranger while she was out walking in the countryside after 'scouring southern England for days for a woman to kidnap'The attacker was convicted of kidnap, intentional strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice after a six-day trial at Winchester Crown Court.Haverty, who has a two-year-old daughter, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, having admitted hitting the victim with the van.Appearing in court today clean shaven with a long black wig, glasses and a long sleeved black pullover shirt, Haverty was jailed for 10 years, with a further four years on licence.The court was told Haverty began gender transition therapy in 2023 and identifies as a woman.In court, barristers and the judge used both 'he' and 'she' pronouns when referring to Haverty.Outlining the attack, His Honour Judge Rufus Taylor described how the victim had finished work at around 5.20pm on March 2 when she decided to go for a walk on a dead end country lane.'She walked under an iron bridge and was by some chalk banks when she became conscious of a van behind her so moved to the left hand edge to let it pass,' Judge Taylor said.'She turned to see the van, expecting it to go around, but it hit her, sending her flying four or five feet. She put her hands out to break her fall.'In her words, she face planted and had dirt on her mouth. She was in complete shock.'The court heard how the victim heard Haverty get out of the van and come towards her, which she believed was the van driver coming to help her. 'But no. You didn't say anything but grabbed her and dragged her towards the van.'You put your arm around her neck and strangled her. It got tighter and tighter.'She tried to shout 'get off me, get off me' but couldn't. She thought she would not survive.'You suddenly let her go completely to open the van door and she took her chance and ran away.'The court heard that the victim suffered injuries to her back, knee and face and was left with a 'mark on her neck'.Jurors heard how Haverty fled to Cornwall, arriving in Newquay just before midnight. The court heard how Haverty ploughed into the victim after passing the iron bridge on Micheldever Road (pictured)The judge continued: 'On entering the house you went straight to the bathroom where you shaved your head and beard.'Your partner Essence McDonald thought this was very odd as you were trying to grow your hair out as part of your transition.'This was you trying to change your appearance in case anyone saw you. You were disguised and had a long dark wig and a beanie hat on.'The judge also said of the attack: 'As to what you intended to do, I don't know. Plainly you intended something awful to happen.'Haverty was cleared by the jury of kidnap intending to commit a sexual offence.Reading an impact statement to the court today, Haverty's victim said she found it 'extremely difficult' to leave the house alone after the attack and still wakes up having panic attacks today.'The worst part was being strangled. Having someone restrain you and affect your breathing is terrifying,' she said.'I think about how different the consequences could have been. I think about what might have happened if he hadn't have been able to escape.'The thought he could have done this to another woman or even child is deeply upsetting.'I'm left with the knowledge that had I not managed to escape the outcome could have been very different and someone else could have been in that terrifying position.'The victim said she now keeps a personal alarm on her at all times and has gone through PTSD counselling and a self-protection course. Reading an impact statement to the court today, she said: 'I cannot simply forget what happened and get on with my life as though nothing happened.'I'm still trying to get back to the person I was before but I don't know if I will ever regain the sense of freedom and safety I once had.'Something that happened over a matter of minutes still has an impact on me today.'Mitigating, Adrianna Knight said Haverty's transitioning had caused some mental health difficulties.She added: 'The psychiatric report doesn't go into specifics but reports anxiety, distress and vulnerability.'Sentencing the attacker, Judge Taylor said the 'terrifying' attack had left the victim feeling completely helpless and 'at your mercy'.He want on: 'She has ongoing pain to her back, knees and eye. They are constant physical reminders of what happened.'She cannot simply forget what happened. It has changed the way she thinks, the way she feels and the way she lives.'You had been wearing a disguise. Aggravating the crime is the highly planned nature of conduct.'You had been scouring southern England for the days prior for a woman you could kidnap'There was the use of a highly dangerous weapon to hit her and stun her.'Haverty has now been jailed for 10 years with four years of an extended licence period which will begin upon release.Haverty has also been disqualified from driving for 92 months.The court heard Haverty went to Truro College between 2023 and 2024 and also attended Central Film School in Clapham, south-west London.