Domestic abuse kills more young women than cancer... we survived & we won’t be silenced any more
sister’s funeral. That December, he beat her for two hours with a rolling pin, leaving 95% of her body bruised
Jodie believes her seven-year-old daughter saved her life, after she told her teachers: “Daddy is hurting Mummy.” Social services and police stepped in.
Jodie now volunteers for Phoenix Women’s Aid in Doncaster and runs a survivors’ club.
“One in four women are victims. That statistic won’t change until we educate people about the early signs,” she says. “This conference shows if you want to make changes leave it to survivors. Together we’re an army.”
Mum-of-two Zoe Dronfield, 42, spent weeks fighting for her life after her ex-partner Jason Smith’s meat cleaver attack during an eight-hour ordeal. In 2015, he was jailed for 10 years with a further four on licence.
“We met in the summer of 2013 and were together for just over a year. He started off as Prince Charming but we had an argument, he pushed me into drawers and I broke my ribs.
“I didn’t see it as domestic violence at the time but I ended it shortly afterwards. He started stalking me.” Zoe, of Coventry, feels let down by the police response after two male officers told her, “You need to find yourself a nice boyfriend”. Jason has JANICE STUBBS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR been transferred to an open prison, not far from Zoe’s home. “I fear a revenge attack. I was never told until after he’d been moved. The criminal justice system puts the perpetrator’s rights over the victim’s rights.”
Janice Stubbs, a 50-year-old hairdresser from Nottingham, also feels she is constantly looking over her shoulder for her abusive ex.
She was pregnant when he pushed her to the ground in a car park and kicked her. Janice, a mother of four, prefers not to name her ex.
“When we met over Facebook in 2008, he was sweet. I was coming through a marriage break-up and he knew exactly what to say. But he became jealous of our unborn baby.”
He was convicted of ABH and sentenced to 30 weeks in prison.
“He called me from prison, sobbing and saying how sorry he was. I was isolated from my family, so I agreed to take him back. When you’re terrified for your life, you feel you’ve no choice.”
In 2011 Janice gave birth and over the next three years she called the police 75 times. “Each time I’d give a victim statement. Each time I’d say the same thing, ‘One day that man will kill someone, I hope it’s not me’.”
In 2013, she found out he was cheating and persuaded him to leave. He was given a five-year non-molestation order for stalking but was jailed for five months for breaching it.
“This conference is amazingly empowering. I see that none of what happened was my fault,” she says. The women echo her sentiments. Pat Craven, creator of the Freedom Programme, said: “As a society, we value men’s feelings over women’s safety and we have to change that.” Sandra Burrows, a 46-year-old nurse With abuser Darren from Shropshire, added: “I’ve been failed by police, social services... I’m sick of not being listened to.”
Laura Young, 31, of Newport, said: “Today has given me my hope back.”
And Natalie Page, a 39-year-old from South Wales, said: “Today has taught me our voices are being heard.”
Becky O’Brien, semi-finalist in 2016 Britain’s Got Talent, shared her story of domestic abuse. She was attacked in her hospital bed hours after giving birth to twins. Today, she is an ambassador for Women’s Aid.
“Why is this taboo? If it’s not talked about it’s easier for perpetrators to keep women under their control. The women in this room are incredible.” ■ If you are a victim of domestic abuse, please contact Women’s Aid at www.womensaid.org.uk
I told police: One day that man will kill someone.. I hope it’s not me