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A film-maker has told how a sexual assault by a woman at a party left his life in tatters.

The attack drove Frank McGowan to the brink of suicide. He suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and more than two years on, he is still haunted by what happened.

Frank said: “Some days, I can’t get out of bed because I’m still gripped by fear. I’ll go to get up and I’ll start sobbing

uncontrollably.

“I still feel empty, hopeless and upset. I felt like the only guy in the world going through the aftermath of this disgusting violence.”

(Image: Daily Record)

The Bafta-nominated film-maker was assaulted by drunken thug Cheryl Cottrell at a house party in Glasgow in May 2015.

He tried to fend off her advances before she violently violated him.

Frank said: “She was very loud and it was clear she’d been drinking.

“She discovered I was gay and made several sexually inappropriate comments. I was absolutely sickened by what she was saying. I’d never heard so many vile things.

“I went into the kitchen to get a glass of water and she followed me. She was asking invasive questions about my partner and asked if I would sleep with her.

“I just wanted to get away and asked her to back off. She was getting angry. Something fell from the unit and I bent down to pick it up – that’s when she pounced by violently pushing her fingers inside me.

(Image: Facebook)

“She didn’t stop and I had to use all my strength to throw her off me.

“I couldn’t believe what was happening – it was a brutal and painful assault.

“I was bleeding and felt like I was being raped by this horrible woman.”

Frank faced a long, harrowing battle to get justice.

Cottrell denied attacking him but in August she was found guilty of sexual assault after a trial ay Glasgow Sheriff Court.

She was placed on the Sex Offender’s Register and ordered to do 120 hours of community service.

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According to Frank, the punishment didn’t remotely match the crime.

He added: “The punishment was ridiculous. I’ve been told if it was man who did that to a woman, the sentence would be five years in prison.

“She got off lightly and I’ll have to live with what she did for the rest of my life.”

Frank, who was nominated for a Bafta for Looking After Mum, said the impact of the assault on his life has been devastating.

(Image: Daily Record)

His relationship with his partner fell apart, he suffered cruel taunts and bullying in the street and was forced to move home.

He suffers flashbacks and severe panic attacks. And the trauma of a court battle led to him developing PTSD.

Frank said: “The experience destroyed me. Things got so bad, I tried to take my own life. Thankfully, a close friend stopped me at the last minute, but I’ll never get over what happened to me.”

He added: “I still don’t know why it happened. It changed my life completely.

“I didn’t ask or want anything to happen. I asked her to leave me alone.

“The worst part was Cottrell thought it was hilarious and showed no signs of remorse. She forced herself on me against my will.

“For weeks, I couldn’t sleep and I felt there was no one I could turn to. I suffered from panic attacks and anyone who looked like her, dressed in the same style of clothes or wore her perfume made me freak out.

“It took me to my lowest point and the thought of having to face her in court seemed too much to deal with.”

Giving evidence in court was traumatic for Frank but he was determined that his attacker would be held accountable for what she had done.

(Image: Facebook)

He added: “It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

“She denied it but luckily the court saw through her lies and she was found guilty. There is no defence for doing something so vulgar.”

Franks admits he still struggles every day and is undergoing counselling to help him rebuild his life.

He has waived his right to anonymity to speak about his ordeal in a bid to show other victims of sex assault that there is support out there.

He said: “I hope by sharing what I went through, other people like me won’t feel alone.

“I didn’t deserve to be attacked and now I feel empowered to help others.”

Frank is supporting the GET IT TOGETHER campaign in partnership with Mental Health Foundation Scotland to encourage more people to share their stories

Frank said: “One of my close friends took their own lives because of PTSD. I wish I’d been there for him.

“I thought, people are killing themselves because of PTSD and I need to speak up and do something.

“I hope it will encourage others to share their story. I would never want someone else to feel as low as I did.

“I wanted to throw away everything good in my life over one absolutely abhorrent woman.

“She’s pure evil.”

Long fight for justice

Cheryl Cottrell was eventually found guilty of sexual assault and ordered to carry out a community payback order of 120 hours. She was also placed on the sex offenders register.

In addition, Cottrell was found guilty of causing fear and alarm to her victim. But she was admonished on that charge, meaning she received no fine or imprisonment.

She was found not guilty of a charge under section seven of the Sexual Offences act, covering indecent verbal communication.

The trial took place at Glasgow Sheriff Court on April 10 and June 26.

Law as it stands

Rape is defined under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 as penetration by a penis without consent.

Because of this, women cannot be tried for rape in Scotland.

Section three of the Act, Sexual Assault, includes any non-consensual penetration that would not meet the definition of rape.

The maximum sentence for offences under this part of the act is life imprisonment.

Section seven of the Act refers to “sexual communication” without consent through verbal communication. The maximum sentence on conviction is 10 years.

Rape Crisis Scotland said that under the law, the use of fingers to penetrate does not constitute rape.

The organisation’s Sandy Brindley said: “Sexual offences can have a significant impact and it is important that sentences reflect the seriousness of the crime.”