The victim of an horrific sex attack in an East Kilbride nightclub has says she is ready to take her “life back” after the pervert who molested her put behind bars.
Albanian national Edison Bala, 29, was jailed for a year and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years this week.
He was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman in Downtown nightclub in May 2018 leaving her in pain and bleeding heavily.
Vile Bala, from Rutherglen, placed his hand up her skirt, ripping her clothing and penetrating her with his fingers.
Speaking to the News after the trial the 23-year-old described how the sickening attack left her suicidal – stabbing herself in the stomach with a kitchen knife at her lowest ebb.
But now Bala, who has been in the country for several years, is behind bars. The courageous victim, who faced intimidation from his friends leading up to and during the trial, said she can finally move on after more than two years of “sheer hell”.
“All I want to do now is move on with my life,” she said.
“He took that from me and the length of the sentence was not my main worry – just that he was locked up.”
The attack left the woman suffering from PTSD and crippling anxiety, and saw her lock herself away. She told the News that if it wasn’t for the support of her parents, she “wouldn’t be here today”.
Things got so bad she stopped washing or looking after herself to the extent that environmental health were called due to the state of her property.
She went on: “I feel like I can breathe again – it’s finally over and I can start rebuilding.
“I want his life to be destroyed the way mine has been.”
However, the victim believes a jail sentence sends out a strong message and desperately wants her bravery to encourage other victims to come forward.
“This, I hope, will show others in my position that they can speak out, they will be believed and perpetrators can’t get away with it.
“As hard as it’s been I knew I had to speak out – I didn’t want anyone else to go through what I did.
“The sentence and the 10 years on the sex offenders’ register, I hope, will show people they can come forward.”
Bala’s brazen attack was in front of a packed bar – leaving her in shock.
He forced himself on her “rubbing and grinding” against the woman, despite her brushing him away.
“I thought he would get the hint, but he didn’t,” she previously told us.
“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.”
The victim braved facing Bala at Hamilton Sheriff Court last Tuesday when Bala was due to be sentenced but the case was further deferred until Thursday as no Albanian interpreter was present.
“I couldn’t go back to court, I found the whole thing pretty traumatising to be honest – I had built myself up only for it to be put off and I was sitting right behind his friends who had done all they could to intimidate me before. But he is now behind bars which is all that matters and other women know who he is.”
Sheriff Daniel Kelly backdated Bala’s sentence to January 14 when he was remanded in custody following the trial.
East Kilbride’s top cop has warned that perpetrators of sexual violence will be brought to justice.
Chief Inspector Lex Baillie praised the brave victim for speaking out.
He told the News: “The case against Edison Bala highlighted serious sexual offending against a young female victim.
“The victim showed true bravery and strength in providing a detailed account of her experience, and subsequently testifying against the man responsible in court.
“I hope that his conviction will offer some comfort as she seeks to put the ordeal behind her.
“We are committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice, and anyone with information about sexual offences or who has any concerns can contact Police Scotland on 101.”
