Former SNP councillor made fake claim woman drugged and sexually assaulted him

A former SNP councillor has been ordered to stay away from a woman he made a false sexual assault allegation against for two years.

Michael Cullen, 44, made the accusation to police officers at his home in Glasgow’s Knightswood in 2017.

Cullen claimed he was drugged by the now 42-year-old childcare worker and abused.

Cullen – who represented the Garscadden and Scotstounhill ward  – knew the allegation was false.

He claimed he was unable to remember events and only knew the woman by her face.

This led to the woman being charged by the police.

However, the recovery of an old phone down the side of her sofa which was believed to have been lost was vital to clear her name.

The phone was found to contain evidence of the pair’s casual and consensual sexual relationship.

Cullen was due to stand trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court accused of making the false allegation.

However, he was deemed unfit to stand trial as a result of a mental condition and an examination of facts – evidence not before a jury – was held in its place with Cullen excused from the dock.

The facts were found proven by Sheriff Paul Reid for the false allegation charge.

Cullen was to learn his fate at a hearing on Tuesday, where he again did not appear in the dock.

His lawyer James Arrol told the court: “His doctor gave me a verbal position that he is receiving treatment in the community.

“He is engaged with the treatment and the doctor does not feel it necessary for any formal order.”

Mr Arrol then invited the sheriff to make no formal order for treatment which was granted and brought an end to the matter.

Sheriff Reid then granted a two-year non-harassment order which prohibits Cullen from contacting his victim in any way.

It has since been reported that Cullen has been caught running a campervan business despite his assessment of being unit for trial.

Cullen has been seen to deal with customers at Demon Campers in Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.

He also was spotted working on a campervan at the front of an industrial unit.

Cullen is claimed to have severe mixed anxiety and a depressive disorder.

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