TOO MANY VICTIMS ARE BEING LET DOWN
In September 2013, Angela Robertson was sexually assaulted by her ex-partner, who filmed the attack on his phone. He avoided a jail term earlier this month, prompting brave Angela to waive her right to anonymity and speak exclusively to the Hamilton Adver
A Hamilton woman whose sexual assault was filmed on an iphone this week hit out at the sentence handed down to her attacker.
Angela Robertson, who has waived her right to anonymity as the victim of a sexual offence, has also set up a petition calling on the Government to act on violence against women.
She said of former partner David Buchanan Murray’s sentence: “The sheriff has let him off lightly. I do feel the court process has failed me. He should have received a jail term.”
A Hamilton woman who was sexually assaulted by her former partner is calling on the Government to act on tackling violence against women.
Angela Robertson has set up two petitions on change.org. One appeals to Prime Minister David Cameron to make it compulsory that abusers attend counselling and anger management, and the other calls for those convicted of abuse to receive a jail term.
Her former partner David Buchanan Murray earlier this month escaped a jail term for carrying out a sexual assault on her at her home.
Angela (31), who has waived her right to anonymity as the victim of a sexual offence, said this week: “I’d like to see more support for victims of abuse. I feel police and social work do not have the necessary time and resources to deal with the matter. More intervention is needed at an early stage.
“I think people suffering abuse are often not willing to come forward. That’s how abusers are getting away with it.
“Victims do have the strength, they just need to find it. A slap is one slap too many and it can lead to years of physical and mental abuse.
“I want other women experiencing abuse to know that controlling and abusive behaviour is not acceptable.”
Angela said her relationship with Murray, the father of her three children, started in March 2005 and the abuse began in March 2006. They were together until May 2010, but saw each other intermittently after that date.
A jury convicted Murray of carrying out the sexual assault on Angela following a four-day trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.
Murray had removed her clothing, sexually assaulted her and filmed her while she was incapable of giving or withholding consent.
The assault had occurred in September 2013 and Murray had filmed it on an iphone. Angela had told the court: “I remember lying there getting moved. All I could hear was: ‘Your clothes need to come off. You have been sick all down you.’
“I didn’t want him taking my clothes off. I remember moving my arms trying to get him to stop.”
He was sentenced to 18 months’ supervision and ordered to carry out 250 hours’ unpaid work within six months. Murray was also placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for 18 months.
Angela said: “It’s not a fair sentence. The sheriff has let him off lightly. I do feel the court process has failed me. He should have received a jail term.”
Angela pointed out that she was grateful for the assistance she received from EVA Services, a GP referral service, for women who have experienced violence.
NHS Lanarkshire EVA Services genderbased violence manager Anne Hayne said: “We provide free specialist services for women who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV), which includes childhood sexual abuse, domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault and harmful traditional practices, such as forced marriage.
“We can offer practical help through our advocacy team or therapeutic help from our therapy team. We are based in Coathill Hospital in Coatbridge, but see women at health centres and clinics in Coatbridge, Motherwell, Cumbernauld, Hamilton, East Kilbride and Carluke.”