Josie Gibson can't sleep after she was allegedly attacked after a night out.
Josie Gibson
The 32-year-old TV star recently revealed on Twitter she'd been left with a bruised face after she ordered a man to get out of a taxi he was sharing with her and her friend after he sexually assaulted her pal on the way home from a New Year's night out, and she admitted she's still traumatised by the altercation.
She aid: "I haven't slept in two days. It's been absolutely horrific, we're so upset.
"I still can't believe it actually happened."
Josie explained she and her friend asked the taxi to pull over when the man put his hand up her pal's skirt, and the guy then started to "violently punch" her companion, before striking her when she tried to intervene.
And the former Big Brother' winner is still suffering the effects of the blows she received.
She said: "I've felt faint and had a constant headache since it happened. I've got a huge black eye too. But my poor friend had it worse, she's been in hospital and is traumatised."
Josie was left even more upset when she posted pictures of her injuries and details of her ordeal on social media and received a number of abusive messages from cruel trolls.
She said: "I've had people saying I've made it up, that I drew the bruise on my face myself. I've been told I'm a crack addict and called every name under the sun.
"I've even had threats made towards me. It's absolutely sick. Most of these comments have been from other women too, which is so sad.
"It's made me wary of leaving the house. But why should I be intimidated and threatened into not standing up and speaking out."
The terrifying encounter brought back traumatic memories for Josie of her own difficult childhood.
She told Closer magazine: "My brother's father was extremely violent towards my mum for years. I have so many horrible memories of the violence I saw in my own home. He'd beat my mum regularly and I'd even have to call ambulances for her when it was particularly bad."
Avon and Somerset police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.
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