A cry from the heart for more to be done to help abuse victims
A despairing woman who tried to take her own life after suffering sickening violence at the hands of her former partner has called for more to be done to help victims speak out and seek prosecution of their abusers.
The woman, who we have agreed not to name, says she suffered multiple broken bones and was admitted to hospital with kidney damage inflicted by her ex.
She was even told how to style her hair by the controlling abuser.
The brute is now facing domestic abuse charges – but the woman says the process to have him charged was far from easy.
She told the Reformer: “I have a broken nose just now and the police can’t do anything about it because I didn’t report it straight away.
“I don’t think it’s the police’s fault, I think it’s down to Scots law.
“I’ve got messages on my phone from him where he has admitted what he’s done to me and the police can’t use them because they could have been written by anyone, but that’s a massive loophole.
“If there could be new legislation put in place, or powers given to the police, it could save so many people’s lives.
“The new domestic abuse legislation really is great – but it doesn’t go far enough.
“I’ve emailed the First Minister asking her if something can be done to change this.
“More needs to be done before more people lose their lives.”
At breaking point on Friday, June 19, in a desperate bid to escape the cruel and controlling abuse, the devastated woman attempted to take her own life.
Speaking from hospital last Monday she said: “I took 80 pills on Friday. I just couldn’t face it anymore. He consumes my life. He is a monster.
“I just want to be free of him. I have been admitted to hospital because of how many pills I took and I know I can’t let him win, but it is so all-consuming. “I just want it to stop.” The victim was in a relationship with her abuser for two years and initially things were normal.
She explained: “He basically moved in straight away when we got together. I knew him from school and things were good in the beginning.
“But one of his relatives died and he would use that as an excuse to lash out at me. I should have known what he was capable of because just before that [the relative’s death], he threw me over a glass table.
“I landed on the floor and ended up hurting my kidney so badly I had to go to hospital and get a catheter in.
“When I was lying on the floor, he spat on my face.
“I told the hospital that I fell over a suitcase because I was so scared about what he would do if I told them the truth.
Women’s Aid South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire:01355 National Domestic Abuse Helpline: Scottish Women’s Aid: Crimestoppers: