I fought the law and... I won

Ellie Wilson's fight for justice after being humiliated and shamed by rapist's lawyer

- GEMMA RYDER

A RAPE survivor who was left "traumatised, shamed and humiliated" by her attacker's lawyer in court has had a complaint against him upheld.

Ellie Wilson's ex-boyfriend Daniel McFarlane was convicted of raping her twice between December 2017 and February 2018.

After the trial, Ellie, 26, lodged a formal complaint with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) against defence lawyer Lorenzo Alonzi, claiming he launched personal attacks in cross-examination.

The Faculty of Advocates complaints committee found Alonzi repeatedly "crossed the line" despite numerous interruptions by the judge and found his behaviour amounted to unsatisfactory professional conduct on six of the 11 issues raised.

Ellie, who has waived her right to anonymity, said after the decision: "I fought the law and I won.

"After being subjected to a humiliating ordeal by my rapist's defence lawyer, I started the arduous process of submitting a complaint. I had to study the law, compile it all myself, facing off against a team of lawyers and it's been upheld."