The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Victim was ‘knowingly’ exposed to violent man
Woman hits out at Recovery Dundee for employing accused trainer
A victim of domestic abuse has spoken of her horror after a support group “knowingly” exposed her to a man being investigated for horrendous violence against women.
Sylvia Fox, who received help with Recovery Dundee for two years, attended free gym classes run by the group through personal trainer Michael McCash.
The well-known fitness fanatic was last week remanded in custody after admitting to carrying out 12 assaults on four former partners, endangering the life of one, between 2008 and 2016.
The 28-year-old held a knife to the throat of two different women and threatened to kill another by crashing the car he was driving.
He also bent a woman’s arm so far back a “crack” sound was heard.
Ms Fox, 48, says she attended the classes “on several occasions” and even brought her 16-year-old daughter to them.
She blames Recovery Dundee founder Sharon Brand for exposing them and others to someone she knew was “dangerous”.
She said: “Sharon never said a word about him (McCash) to us. She knew about everything he was accused of.
“He was working with Recovery Dundee right up until it all came out.
“It’s shocking. Sharon knows everything I have been through – that’s what hurts the most. ”
Dundee Sheriff Court heard McCash, who founded business Dream Believe Achieve, carried out the attacks in cars, at his and the victim’s homes, and at parties.
Addressing McCash in the dock, Sheriff Tom Hughes told him he was “extremely fortunate” not to end up at the High Court, such was the serious nature of the offences.
After news of McCash’s crimes came out several weeks ago, Recovery Dundee stood by him and said he was “working hard to become the man he is capable of becoming”.
When approached this week about the concerns, Ms Brand said that the group will not comment until after McCash is sentenced on January 10.
Ms Fox said she even visited McCash’s house, where filming took place for Darren “Loki” McGarvey’s BBC Scotland documentary on Dundee’s rising poverty rates.
She said: “I can’t believe I was there, in his house.
“He seemed like a lovely and charming man. I told him about some of the things I had been through. I’m so glad he is behind bars.”