ACID ATTACK
HORRIFICALLY scarred in an acid attack arranged by her bullying ex- boyfriend, Adele Bellis is determined her own ordeal should serve to keep others safe.
This week the tough 24-year-old bravely told her story to a class of sixth-formers to teach them about avoiding abuse.
As Adele opened up with heart-rending honesty about her six-year relationship with jealous and controlling Anthony Riley, the students sat in silence.
This was a lesson they had wanted to attend. But alarmingly, it was also one which a significant number will need.
Because one in four of the girls and one in six of the boys are likely to face an abusive relationship as they grow into adulthood. Every week in England and Wales two women are killed by their partner or ex-partner.
Today the Sunday Mirror joins forces with Adele to help launch a campaign calling on the Government to make it compulsory for schools to educate all children about healthy relationships.
We want the law changed so that every child in the UK is taught the warning signs of domestic abuse as part of their Personal, Social and Health Education lessons.
Our campaign is backed by MPs, charities, teaching unions and parenting organisations.
Ex-beautician Adele was 16 when she met Riley, three years her senior. She said: “I didn’t know what a bad relationship was, so at first I didn’t think his behaviour was wrong.
THREATS
“If I’d been taught at school about the early warning signs of abusive and controlling relationships I’d have run a mile. But I stayed with him – and as the relationship developed it became harder to leave.
“I was terrified by his threats. He told me he would slit my mum and dad’s throats if I left. He said he would kill them and make me live the rest of my life knowing I was to blame.”
When she finally found the strength to leave, Riley became crazed with jealousy. Obsessed with destroying Adele’s face so no other man would find her attractive, he paid an accomplice to throw acid at her.
Adele’s ear melted off and part of her face, neck and arm were burned in the bus stop attack in August 2014. Riley was jailed for life last year and told he will serve 13 years before being eligible for parole.
As Adele relived the horrors of the relationship – and spoke on how to avoid falling victim to domestic abuse – pupils at Notre Dame High School in Norwich listened in horror-struck silence.
Head teacher Brian Conway said of her talk: “Adele has an incredibly important message that students need to hear.
“Her story is one that could happen to anybody – children need to be taught the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. There are imbalances of power in relationships even from an early age, and I back the call for this to be compulsory. It is a school’s job to make children aware of the dangers.”
Student Lucas Narburgh, 17, said: “This is the first time relationships have ever been mentioned in a school class. Adele’s story was so shocking, I think it’s really