Maura Higgins has recalled the terrifying time she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver.
The Love Island star, 33, was speaking to Married At First Sight expert, Paul C Brunson, on his show, We Need To Talk, when she heartbreakingly admitted she blamed herself for the violation.
Explaining she was was aged 27, sitting in the front of a taxi after her friends, who were sitting in the back got dropped off first, Maura said: "I fell asleep in the front seat. I had a short dress on and I woke up...I'd had a few too many drinks...and his hand was up my skirt. I never sobered up so quick in all my life."
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We Need To Talk/YouTube)Admitting she was "too scared to say anything", the former ring girl explained she memorised the cab number, which was written on the dashboard in "less than five minutes". However, she still had to endure the agonising journey during which the driver "kept staring" at her.
Thankfully, Maura was dropped off at home, however as she struggled to find her keys, the driver stayed his car, "just watching" her. The next day, the influencer said she still remembered the taxi's number, but conceded she didn't report the driver because "he knows where I lived and I didn't want to live in fear alone."
Saying she "regretted the decision" not to report the incident, Maura admitted she blamed herself because she was in the front seat, had "one too many drinks" and fell asleep. She said: "I didn't have my wits about me. I've learnt from it though. That will never happen again. When you go through something like that, you make sure it will never happen again.
In 2019, Maura shot to fame on Love Island and soon became one of the UK's most in demand reality stars. She's now rumoured to have signed up for I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! after her Love Island co-star, Tommy Fury, is said to have pulled out.
An insider recently claimed: "With Tommy Fury pulling out it gave show bosses the opportunity to look at other Love Island stars and Maura stood out as the perfect candidate." They also told The Sun the model would "bring a bit of glamour" to the jungle and be "a brilliant campmate". ITV said about the claims: "Any names suggested for I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! are just speculation." The Mirror has reached out to Tommy and Maura's reps for comment.
If you've been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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