Maura Higgins has said she was sexually assaulted by a driver after falling asleep in a taxi

Maura Higgins has said she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver after she fell asleep in the back of his car.

The 31-year-old model and ex Love Island star opened up about her experience of sexual assault during an Insatgrram Q&A in response to a follower asking: “Your worst encounter with a man?”.

Maura explained that she wasn’t ready to open up about her worst encounter, saying: “The worst one I’ve never ever opened up to any of you about and I don’t even think I’m ready yet. It was probably one of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me.”

She opened up about another incident in which she had fallen asleep in a taxi. She said: “I also had an incident with a taxi driver, a long time ago in Ireland. Silly me, I fell asleep.”

She continued: “My friends were dropped off before me and I was being dropped off alone because I lived on my own at the time. I woke up and his hand was right up my skirt.”

She went onto explain how she reacted to the assault: “I sobered up so quickly and I remembered his taxi number and I still remembered it the next day.”

Maura didn’t provide any further details into what happened next, or whether or not she reported it.

If you or someone you know has been affected by this story contact Refuge on their free 24/7 helpline 0808 2000 247 or contact Rape Crisis online for a free confidential chat helpline.

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Featured images via @maurahiggins on Instagram.