Gay man speaks out about sexual assault by ‘pure evil’ woman

Filmaker Frank McGowan says he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after the 'brutal and painful' attack

Frank McGowan said he has suffered flashbacks since the assault (Facebook)

A man who was subjected to a "brutal and painful" assault by a "pure evil" woman after she discovered he was gay, has spoken out about the attack.

Filmmaker Frank McGowan said he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after May 2015 attack, which nearly drove him to suicide.

Waiving his right to anonymity to speak to the Daily Record, he said he was at a house party with Cheryl Cottrell when she propositioned him and made inappropriate comments after finding out his was gay.

Mr McGowan said he tried to fend off her advances but was sexually violated when he bent over.

“She discovered I was gay and made several sexually inappropriate comments," he said. "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.

(Facebook (Facebook)

“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.”

It took all of his strength to push her away, he added.

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

Afterwards he was left bleeding and "felt like he had been raped", he added.

Ms Cottrell denied attacking Mr McGowan but was found guilty of sexual assault in August after a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

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

Mr McGowan said he has suffered severe anxiety and flashbacks since the assault.

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

He added that he hoped his story would encourage others to speak up about sexual assault and PTSD.

“I wanted to throw away everything good in my life over one absolutely abhorrent woman," he said. "She’s pure evil.”

The Samaritans offers free support and advice on 116 123 or at samaritans.org