Trudi Wilson claims brutal harassment forced her to close Truskin Clinic before suspicious blaze
The owner of a Pakington St laser hair removal clinic that was badly damaged in a suspicious fire said constant harassment forced her to close and ruined her mental health.
Geelong
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The owner of a skin and laser clinic that was damaged by a suspicious blaze on Wednesday night says she was repeatedly stalked and intimidated in the two years leading up to the suspected arson attack.
Trudi Wilson, who owned and operated beauty salon Truskin Clinic on 102 Pakington St, said she had “no doubt” her alleged antagonists were responsible for torching the business.
The former Portarlington resident said she is “too terrified” to return to the region.
“I’ll never come back to Geelong now.”
Four weeks earlier, Ms Wilson – a reformed drug addict who has been clean for three months – announced the clinic’s abrupt closure on her website.
Speaking to the Geelong Advertiser, she revealed how being constantly harassed forced her to flee the area for her safety and health.
“It definitely got to the point that if I didn’t leave the clinic when I did, it would’ve been days before I killed myself,” she said.
“We closed the clinic and relocated because I’ve been so suicidal from of all the trauma.”
“I was going to work sobbing every day … they’ve been making my life an absolute hell.”
Ms Wilson alleged her stalkers hacked her iCloud and set her location to the East Geelong cemetery for “weeks and weeks.”
“They were pushing me to try and kill myself; I wholeheartedly believe that’s what they were doing.”
She also claimed they vandalised the store and regularly came to her laser clinic during opening hours to taunt her.
Ms Wilson is devastated to walk away from the business and said closing Truskin Clinic was the “hardest thing” to do because of her future aspirations for it.
“It was everything to me and I built it to give to my daughter.”
“She is studying beauty; I opened the clinic so she could come and work with me and then I could hand it over to her.”
Ms Wilson claims her daughter, who is 15, has also been threatened.
“They’ve described what she looks like to me; they know where she lives.”
Ms Wilson said she has reported the alleged campaign of harassment to police.
Ms Wilson also spoke of her connection to the community and how she loved giving back to those in need.
“It was really hard to leave … the clients were some of my best friends.”
“I offered free facials for people escaping domestic violence since the day I opened … and I’d give out supermarket vouchers to people in need.”
Now, she has to leave behind a life she spent years building.
“I’ve always had a really successful career; I’m really highly regarded in the industry but I’ll never be able to work a stressful job again.”
Police are investigate the cause of the blaze.
If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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