Women held at Everard vigil win Met payout and vow to 'speak up on abuse'

A WOMAN who was paid substantial damages after being arrested at a vigil for Sarah Everard today vowed to continue to "speak up about police abuse" despite receiving death threats.

- Anthony France and Jitendra Joshi

Patsy Stevenson and Dania Al-Obeid were among the protesters held at the Clapham Common vigil for Ms Everard, who was raped and murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer in March 2021, when Covid restrictions on large gatherings were in place.

An image of Ms Stevenson being pinned down by officers and dragged away was seen around the world.

The women have now been paid compensation by the Met after it acknowledged that even during Covid their "fundamental right to protest remained". But Ms Stevenson, from Egham, Surrey, said the experience had scarred her for life.

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think people realise how tough legal battles are. There are hurdles every step of the way, there's hate, I've had death threats." Ms Stevenson said she only went to "mourn for a woman who was murdered by a police officer", adding: "I still have nightmares of it. I know other people have faced worse police brutality but for me that was my experience."