WOMEN from across Dorset are being invited to participate in free self-defence workshops to help them feel more 'alert, prepared and confident' should they ever be attacked, in the wake of the Sarah Everard murder.

Personal trainer John Mortimore is holding two virtual self-defence workshops to give Dorset women the tools they need to be able to defend themselves if they are attacked.

John, 27, began teaching self-defence classes in January last year but was forced to stop at the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

When he heard the news of the recent abduction and murder of Sarah Everard in Clapham he began to reflect on how unsafe many women feel when they are alone and decided he would put on two virtual self-defence classes to give them the confidence that they can protect themselves if they need to.

Two years ago, John, who has two younger sisters, witnessed a woman being attacked and chased down her attacker, holding him in a chokehold until police arrived and arrested him.

He said: "I've always been aware of the troubles women go through. As a big brother I always worry about my sisters feeling scared to walk home at night because men might be making them feel uncomfortable.

"Sarah Everard's tragic murder has set anxiety and fear in the hearts of women and I feel so strongly that I can do something to help women feel safer and I can give them the tools to be more alert, prepared and confident if they ever need to defend themselves."

The two-hour classes will take place from 5pm until 7pm on Sunday, March 21 and Sunday, March 28 and will teach women some basic self-defence moves as well as how to manage an emotional response to being attacked - freeze, fight or flight.

John, who lives and works in Poole, said: "I want to cover basic safety tools like texting someone to let them know where you are going to be and what time you will be home, as well as some self-defence moves which don't require loads of training but are super simple to pick up.

"It is important to remember that something is better than nothing when it comes to defending yourself so all the moves that you learn will be helpful if you ever need to rely on them."

The event is free but you must sign up to receive the link to the Zoom workshop. For more information and to book a place on the course, visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-self-defence-workshop-tickets-146471118057