A woman awarded criminal injuries compensation for being raped by a colleague has demanded that her attacker is brought to justice.
Jan Cruickshank, 60, received a cash payout from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for the attack but police did not take the case forward.
Now SNP MP Seamus Logan has raised Jan’s case and used parliamentary privilege to produce new information on the way her employer, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), handled the case.
The Aberdeenshire North and Moray East MP said that the CITB dismissed Jan’s claims after the incident and alleges that may have influenced how the case was handled by police.
He spoke during a debate on legal actions brought by powerful bodies against opponents via the legal system.
These are known as SLAPPS – strategic litigation against public participation.
During the debate Logan said: “A senior whistleblower at CITB has revealed that its legal team had indicated a substantial potential liability should Jan’s case come to trial. The whistleblower confirmed … a targeted campaign to discredit Jan over several mediums.
“CITB misused the false narrative to depict Jan as a homewrecker, subsequently initiating a predetermined human resources investigation focused on facilitating her exit from the company.
“A second whistleblower has corroborated that management planned to exit Jan from the business a month before her HR process was complete.”
The MP also said a Police Scotland officer who interviewed Jan “lacked the requisite training to handle such a sensitive sexual assault case, resulting in the premature conclusion of the matter”.
Jan made a fresh report to police in March 2022 after the award of criminal injuries gave her hope that her claim that she had been raped at a Highland hotel on March 31, 2015, would be investigated.
Jan, of Aberdeenshire, said: “It has affected my whole life and that of my family. The injustice continues to pain us all but I believe justice is worth fighting for and I cannot and will not let it drop.”
Jan expressed her gratitude to Logan, who demanded that CITB issue her with a public apology.
She said: “Upon seeing CITB publicly named and shamed I feel immense relief. I was gagged throughout a horrific grievance process instead of being supported. Seamus Logan has helped elevate my voice.”
Jan’s former colleague was questioned by police but gave a “no comment” interview.
The procurator fiscal decided it was not in the public interest to prosecute him for sending Jan an obscene photo, which she was able to share with police.
Police Scotland said: “A complaint was received in relation to this matter and responded to in January 2024.”
A CITB spokesperson said: “We are aware of the parliamentary debate on this former employee’s historic claim against CITB. Due to the sensitive nature … CITB has nothing further to add.”
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