A WOMAN who was left shocked and distressed after being grabbed in her own home by a man with a Father Christmas hat pulled over his face, has warned others to be on their guard. Sarah Downey, aged 25, had only just moved into her Harpenden home when the

A WOMAN who was left shocked and distressed after being grabbed in her own home by a man with a Father Christmas hat pulled over his face, has warned others to be on their guard. Sarah Downey, aged 25, had only just moved into her Harpenden home when the attack happened just before Christmas. She said: "I just never thought that something like this would happen so I want to make sure that other people are aware of it and are careful when they open their doors. I've heard of similar things happening recently and I don't want it to happen to anyone else." When she opened the door he grabbed her by the throat. She started to kick him and shouted for her partner, who was not actually in. The intruder then ran away. PC James Sarson said: "We are taking this unusual incident very seriously. The victim was very shaken by the violent nature of the assault.