I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE AGAIN
Brutal sex attack left me feeling worthless and suicidal. I hated myself and struggled to get out of bed or even wash. My attacker needs to be behind bars...
A young woman has told how she tried to take her own life after a sickening sex attack inside an East Kilbride nightclub.
And she admits had it not been for the support of her parents, she would no longer be here.
The brave victim has spoken out for the first time after she was molested by pervert Edison Bala.
Albanian Bala left his victim bleeding heavily after sexually assaulting her, placing his hand up her skirt, ripping her clothing and penetrating her with his fingers in May 2018.
Shockingly, the 29-year-old, from Rutherglen – who is on remand ahead of sentencing next Tuesday – carried out the vile attack in full view of a packed bar.
That left his victim with crippling depression and anxiety – at her lowest ebb, she stabbed herself in the stomach with a knife.
Speaking exclusively to the News, the 23-year-old has told how her life has been ‘ruined’ by the harrowing attack at Downtown nightclub.
The woman, who does not wish to be named, told us: “My life has been absolutely destroyed.
“In all honesty if it wasn’t for my parents I wouldn’t be here today – they dragged me back from the brink.
“I’ve battled with suicidal thoughts, have self-harmed, and I’ve been diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety. It’s been nearly two years of sheer hell.
“I stopped living, locked myself away; stopped taking care of myself, washing or cleaning – it got so bad that environmental health even came to the door after my neighbours thought someone had died because of the smell.
“I hated myself; hated what he had done to me and I felt worthless – I smashed up so many mirrors because I couldn’t look at myself.”
The victim, who worked in the catering industry, had been on a night out with friends and shortly after Midnight ended up at Sinatra’s bar at Downtown.
Before her ordeal, she described herself as “always a bubbly, chatty person” who would “talk to anyone”.
She added: “On the night, the girl I was with left, but I knew the bouncers and other people at the club so felt perfectly safe.
“I went outside and he was standing with smokers. Being friendly, I said ‘hello,’ but quickly realised he didn’t speak any English, so I walked away.
“He followed me onto the dance floor, but I ignored him.”
An hour or so later, brazen Bala forced himself on her at the busy bar, “rubbing and grinding” against the woman, despite her brushing him away.
“I thought he would get the hint, but he didn’t,” she told the
News.
“The next thing I knew, his hand was up my skirt.
“He ripped through my tights and penetrated me with multiple fingers. I just screamed, stepped back, slapped him on the face and ran to the cloakroom.
“At first the bouncers didn’t understand what had happened, I was in total shock. But after I told them they were brilliant.
“They formed a shield around me and took me back out to identify who it was that attacked me.”
Police were called and she was taken to hospital bleeding heavily and in pain.
“I wasn’t sure at first about speaking to the police,” she added, “I didn’t know whether I would be believed, but I knew if I didn’t come forward he would more than likely do this again.
“I never want that to happen to anybody else.
“And by doing this I want to show others that they will be believed if they speak up.”
Bala will be sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court next week.