"I literally thought I was going to die": Woman attacked in her own driveway | A Current Affair

It's a murder waiting to happen.He needs to be moved.That's how Caitlin feels about her neighbour.The emergency nurse was washing the car in her driveway when the NDIS patient attacked her.He has a history of violence.Now she walks around with a wrench in her own home, wondering when he'll strike next.

She says the whole neighbourhood is vulnerable.

The sound of pure terror.Caitlin is screaming for her life.

I literally thought I was going to die.

attacked in her driveway by a neighbour, an NDIS patient.

He's a danger to society and a danger to himself.

The neighbourhood want him moved.

We're actually scared.We're living in fear.Nobody needs to live like that.Nobody should live like that.

Caitlin says she's lucky to be alive.The 26 -year -old emergency nurse was simply washing her car at her Melbourne home earlier this month.Then this.Attacked at random by a neighbour, she screams for help.The NDIS patient's carer trying in vain to make him stop.So when he's attacking you, what's going through your head?

I'm gonna die.He could have easily just snapped my neck.Could have killed me. I was digging my nails in.I was scratching.I was using every bit of power I had left.and I couldn't and all I could do was scream in a hope that someone would hear me.

Kaitlyn's screams were finally answered.A passing car stops and two men jump in to help her.Police and ambulance are called.He's accused of attacking the emergency service workers too.

I had like a laceration across the top of my nose frombeing punched in the face.I had big clumps of hair fall out.My neck and my shoulders were so sore for weeks from being thrown around.

Kaitlyn says she's been left traumatised.She had to move in with her parents after the attack, too scared to be home alone.Kaitlyn's dad, Steve, wants action.

Steve, as a father, when your daughter's attacked like that, what was your reaction?I can honestly say I was angry, to the point where I was feeling like I was getting out of control myself.The instincts of the dad kicks in and you just...You just want to protect your daughter, you want to protect your family.You can't just whack someone in the middle of a... in the suburbs that's violent, going around smashing and damaging property and assaulting people.What has to happen?

Does someone have to die before something will be done?

Caitlin says she's now weighing up moving house.

I carry a wrench around my house in fear that he would, you know, smash my window and come and attack me again.We've been looking at other properties, somewhere to build, list this place.I just, I don't want to be here knowing that it could happen again.

But you shouldn't have to do that.

No, I shouldn't.And none of my neighbours should have to feel that way either.But I'm not left any choice.

The NDIS patient is a client of provider Sunrise to Sunrise.He lives alone in this care home.He has carers around the clock.But even with security fencing, neighbours say he often escapes and causes damage in the street.When you hear that screaming, what do you think?

I panic.He's out.What is he going to do?Is he coming to my house?

One neighbour even claims to have had their windows broken.multiple times.Another says they had their garage door headbutted.

It's really horrible.Especially, I have kids here, but you can't go anywhere.All the kids all the time at home.Yeah, it's very dangerous for us.You can't let them go play on the street?No, no, no.

You can't guarantee what will happen to them.

Families in this once quiet street say they're living in fear.

I know that I've got kids that run and play in the streets.We've got elderly grandparents that walk.

And that, what if he attacks them?I don't understand why that's not evidence enough that he's not suited or his needs are not getting met and he's not feeling safe.I feel like he needs proper care where he feels safe and that he doesn't have to go out and smash windows and stuff like that.

In a statement, Sunrise to Sunrise told a current affair.

We've consulted various expert professionals to tailor a supported independent living service.After being informed of this incident, we immediately contacted emergency services.

People are living in fear of their lives and I fear for Caitlin.

Claire Collins, Chair of Advocacy Australia.

What does happen if he gets out again and what happens next time if he happens to have a knife?People are vulnerable.The whole neighbourhood is vulnerable and that's unacceptable.That's unacceptable.He needs to be in appropriate care where he can be treated and where he can not harm anybody else.

Claire says the system is broken.

I think that while we do have empathy for people that suffer from mental health conditions, we also need to be aware that those that are violent need to be off the street.They should not be out in public.The government needs to take responsibility for this and also the supplier that's providing care.for him.

Police have confirmed they intend to charge the man over the incident.Whether he can be legally held accountable for his actions will be for the court to decide.

It's a murder waiting to happen.It's another person, it's a child, it's somebody waiting to get hurt and nobody can see that.

Until a solution is found, Caitlin and the community won't feel safe.

He needs to be moved.He's not getting the proper care.We're not getting the safety we need.He needs to go.

How is he still living there?I think the neighbours make a lot of sense.Move him somewhere safe before something even worse happens.