A recent study by the UN showed 83 per cent of women between the ages of 18-24 have experienced sexual harassment with only four per cent reporting these incidents because they fear 'nothing will happen'.

From being harassed, followed, wolf-whistled at or being cat-called, women in Basingstoke have shared their stories in the hope of raising awareness.

We asked our readers what their experiences have been and what men can do to make women feel safer when walking alone.

Here is what they said. Names have been changed or withheld to protect the women who have contributed to this piece. Some readers might find this content distressing. 

'He pressed himself up against me' - Jenifer 

“I once experienced a male pressing up against my behind with his erection while on the tube in rush hour. This made me feel disgusting and embarrassed.

“I have had multiple men toot me from vans, wolf whistle or shout condescending comments when I am walking or running alone (fully covered clothing so no attention wanted).

“I have been filling my car with petrol minding my own business on my way to work and two vans (same company sign writing) were filling up behind each other, both men (filling up) and one man inside the van all loudly discussing my appearance, RATING my look out of 10 and asking each other if I were their type as if I were an object.

“I remember their conversation so vividly with one shouting ‘I definitely would, would you’ and the other replying ‘na mate would go near that with a barge pole, too skinny for me, not my type’ this was absolute humiliation and I got to work and just cried.

“I don’t think a certain ‘type of men’ think about how it victimises women, especially when they are on their own and vulnerable. This was in the Texaco garage in Hook and it was just me and them filling up.”

'Cat calling is common in Basingstoke' - Mandy 

“I have experienced a lot of catcalling on the streets of Basingstoke. Especially when walking home or to the bus station alone.

“Even when I worked late shifts in Basingstoke some years ago, I could wear my work uniform and have the same experience while waiting for a taxi.

“Just also wanted to add I was sexually assaulted by an ex-partner so sometimes there isn't much  that can be done to avoid the situations sometimes.

“But women are taught from a young age, cover your drinks, be wary of blokes in the pub and NEVER walk home alone at night if you can help it.

“I feel like the education around violence against women need to change before the attacks like Sarah Everards can be prevented. Rape happens because of rapists. Full stop.

“The only way it can change is to educate in my opinion.”

'He tried to force himself onto me' - Suzanne 

“A man force himself into mine and a friend’s taxi and then try and drag me out, then got called slurs because I resisted- while the taxi driver just let it happen, and then admitted this man is well known for this and apparently lots of drunken girls end up just going.

“He must have assumed I was drunk and easy to take advantage of being a weekend and late. Sadly not the case. He is also known to domestic violence organisations, I later found out.

“He tried to add me on FB recently not even realising/remembering, soon regretted that. Threatened to go to my work.

“Still I’d expect duty of care from the taxi driver.”

'Stalker left me terrified' - Amy 

“When I was in my early-20s, I used to work on a radio station.

“As I came out of work at 10pm one evening, I could see a guy sitting in his car a little up the road, which was odd as it was all businesses and deserted after 6pm.

“I got in my car and started driving and the guy started following me. I wanted to be sure I wasn't imagining it so started taking little detours.

“He still followed me. I got to a huge roundabout about half a mile from my house (about a 15 minute drive) and just drove around and around it.

“On about the third loop, he got the message and peeled off. I was shaking by the time I got home (to an empty house).

“I moved stations and then had someone who kept sending in messages via the website, telling me what I had bought in Sainsbury's and what I had drank in the pub.

“The messages kept coming with no way of tracing them until he told me a date and a time of when he was going to murder me as I left work. I was terrified and all I remember my boss saying was ‘don't be stupid. You know he's not going to kill you’.”

'Lads pestered me in public' - Joanne 

“I feel unsafe in my own area. Last year in summer I was out walking my dog when two lads not much older than me – bottles of drink in hand – cornered me on some green on the side of the road.

“As I managed to start walking off they followed me, continuously trying to grab me and tell me to go with them. Then shouting secure remarks to me because I kept walking trying to ignore them as they just kept following and pestering me.

“I finally got to a corner and ran off with my dog, literally about five minutes from home.

“I was too afraid to get my phone out in case I got caught off guard and they instead robbed me or tried taking the dog.

Since then I've not walked that bit on my own nor does my partner like me going out on my own in the evenings, even 7pm round there.

“Where ever I go I'm constantly pacing and looking behind me, eyes on anywhere near just so I'm aware of my surroundings, I even get uncomfortable being in my back garden when it's dark because of the pathway behind my house where has been known for people just to hang about.”

'I've had clients flash' - Rachel

"I work in the top of the town and I am the one left to lock up and I absolutely dread locking up Friday and Saturday evenings.

"I work right by some pubs and I have had groups of men walk by and shout things into the shop, even when clients are in the shop with me.

"I’ve had clients flash against the window and for some reason that’s fine cos 'it’s just blokes being blokes when drunk'. 

"I walk with keys in my fingers to my car and always check all around my car before I get in. It doesn’t help that the street lighting is rubbish."

The number of stories of everyday harassment shared by women has raised questions about what can be done to make public spaces safer. 

We asked our readers to share their thoughts. There was strong support for Hampshire County Council to switch street lights back on with some sharing fears about walking to and from work. 

• Calls for street light review in wake of Sarah Everard killing

One woman said the most important thing men can do is continue to call out their mates when they exhibit inappropriate or sexist behaviour.

She wrote: “[It is important to] accept and understand when a woman says “no” to being bought a drink/being walked home/being given a lift home.

“Your intentions may be entirely pure, but women are brought up to be wary of this. Being kind and understanding when they say no, and not taking it personally will make all the difference.

“We all accept its “not all men” but it’s enough men. Don’t argue the point that it’s “not all men” because that makes you complicit to the men that it is. Accept that some men are a danger to others, and support those who share their stories.

Although some male readers were criticised for 'whataboutism' in their replies, one respondent’s reply summed up the minority vs majority argument.

She said: “Whilst I agree that the vast majority do not hurt women there is still a considerable minority who do, that is why one in four women will be subject to physical and/or sexual violence against the hands of a man at some point in their lives.

“Many women will experience this more than once and sexual harassment and intimidation is par for the course of the vast majority of pre-pubescent, and teenage girl.

“There is nothing like a budding but still obviously a girl body to bring out the pervs and sickos even when you are just standing at a bus stop on the way to school.

“Now as a grown adult woman I see the way some men will eat teenage girls with their eyes even when walking through the town with their own young daughters next to them.

“No it isn't the majority of men, but it is enough of them for men to stop crying they are the victims when this subject is brought up, minimising and therefore enabling those very men that men claim they are not like. Men need to listen instead of jumping on the defensive.”