VINCENT CUNNINGHAM FROM KILMARNOCK ATTACKS WOMAN IN DRUNKEN RAGE

A woman narrowly escaped a life-threatening assault by a bodybuilder she met through an online dating platform, revealing that her quick thinking and the use of her false nails were crucial in surviving the brutal attack. Debora Colman, a 42-year-old divorcee from Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire, recounted the harrowing incident that unfolded after she returned home from a day at work.

According to Ms. Colman, she had been communicating with Vincent Cunningham, a 49-year-old sales representative, whom she met on the popular dating website Plenty of Fish. Their online interactions initially appeared harmless, but the situation quickly escalated when Cunningham, described as a controlling individual, showed a darker side. On the night of the attack, Cunningham, who was reportedly intoxicated, flew into a violent rage that culminated in a physical assault on Ms. Colman.

Ms. Colman explained that Cunningham grabbed her by the hands and pressed them around her neck in a chokehold. Despite the overwhelming pressure and fear, she managed to break free from his grasp. Her quick reflexes and the fact that she was wearing bright pink gel nails played a pivotal role in her escape. She described how she used her nails to fight back, and in a desperate act of self-preservation, she fled the scene in her car and immediately contacted the police.

The police responded swiftly, and Cunningham was arrested shortly thereafter. He has since been convicted and is currently serving a prison sentence of nearly three years, which includes time for this attack as well as a separate assault. The incident has left Ms. Colman shaken but grateful to be alive, emphasizing that her nails, which are regularly maintained and acrylic, were instrumental in her survival.

In her own words, Ms. Colman recounted the terrifying moments when Cunningham was hunched over her, weighing approximately 17 stone, with his full weight pressing down on her chest. She described the look in his eyes as “jet black,” and recounted how he was chanting about the devil, saying, “I am going to take you to the dark side.”

She recalled feeling her body weakening, believing she was about to die, and in her final moments, wishing her body could be returned to her family. However, she found an inner strength that she did not know she possessed. She managed to slip her hands through the gap in his arms and, in a desperate act, pushed her thumbs into his eyes, gouging them. This act of defiance was the only reason she was able to break free from his hold and escape the nightmare.