A RAPE survivor feels her attacker is “punishing” her as he has appealed his conviction.

Brave Ellie Wilson, who waived her anonymity, is speaking out after being attacked by Daniel McFarlane while she was a student at Glasgow University.

The 25-year-old, from Glasgow, feels her abuser is still trying to “control her” by challenging his guilty verdict.

She was left suicidal after being attacked and is desperate to “draw a line” under the horror ordeal, but feels his appeal will delay her getting closure.

Glasgow Times:

We previously reported that McFarlane was convicted of two rape charges following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in June 2022.

He was jailed for five years after being found guilty of Sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. The offences outlined under this act included rape.

Now he has launched an appeal this year with no grounds being identified yet.

The attacks occurred between December 2017 and February 2018.

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Glasgow Times:

Ellie told the Glasgow Times: “It feels so frustrating for me, I want to draw a line under this and end it.

“I suffered really bad mental health after being attacked, I tried to take my own life in 2019 as a result.

“Since he has been found guilty things have been looking up for me as it gave me a lot of relief, but now things feel unfinished again.

“I just feel like he is trying to control and punish me again.

“The appeal could take a long time to deal with, which is very anxiety provoking for me."

Glasgow Times:

Ellie secretly recorded McFarlane confessing to attacking her and handed it over to police.

In the audio clip, heard by the Glasgow Times, she asks him: "Do you not get how awful it makes me feel when you say 'I haven't raped you' when you have?"

McFarlane replies: "Ellie, we have already established that I have. The people that I need to believe me, believe me. I will tell them the truth one day, but not today."

When asked how he feels about what he has done, he says: "I feel good knowing I am not in prison."

We previously reported how Daniel McFarlane preyed on Ellie at a flat in Glasgow's Finnieston.

He later contacted a friend to admit he had done "despicable things", then tried to get him to delete the messages.

McFarlane denied the crimes claiming any admission of guilt were "false".

Glasgow Times:

Ellie said that despite audio and written confessions being used in court, the verdict was not unanimous.

Now because of McFarlane’s appeal Ellie will have to wait even longer to get her phone back.

She said: “I recorded the confession because I felt manipulated and wanted to gather evidence for myself to ward off any gaslighting attempts.

“After that I finally got the strength to go to the police.

“I really want to get my phone back, it is my property and there is stuff on it I would like to look at.

“They have had it for about two and a half years.”

Ellie is campaigning to help other victims and encourages people to leave abusive relationships.

 

 

She said: “Being so open about it has been draining but it has given me an outlet for my pain, it won’t ever fully go away but maybe it can help other people.

“I have had a lot of people reaching out and I feel I have this whole community around me which makes me feel less lonely.

“I would say to other survivors that I understand how it feels to become very low and struggle, but it does get better and just life is worth living.

“If you are in an abusive relationship, seek help to get out.”

You can call Rape Crisis Scotland for help on 08088 01 03 02

You can also contact Women's Aid on 0131 226 6606