Take that, sucker!
As my vile boyfriend rained down punches on me, a surprising hero swooped in
Heaving a crate of beer up the cellar steps, I knelt by the pub fridge to restock it. Amid the background buzz of drinkers, I heard a booming voice.
‘Anyone serving?’ the bloke yelled over the bar.
‘Just a minute,’ I sighed, climbing to my feet.
Only, laying eyes on him, I softened.
Long hair in a topknot, gorgeous blue eyes, he definitely wasn’t a regular.
I would’ve remembered serving you! I thought.
‘What can I get you?’ I smiled.
‘Pint please, and whatever you’re having,’ he added with a grin.
It was February 2019. He introduced himself as Danny Newton, then 29, and as we chatted, I was gutted to learn he had a girlfriend.
Still, we got on well whenever he popped into the pub for a pint.
Even flirted a little. Then, about four months later, Danny turned up on my doorstep.
‘What are you doing here?’ I laughed, chuffed to see him.
‘I just wanted to see you,’ he admitted.
He flopped down on the sofa and my heart leapt when he said his relationship was over.
‘The truth is,’ he started. ‘I’ve got feelings for you.’
‘I feel the same,’ I whispered as he leant in for a kiss.
I was buzzing. Danny was kind and welcoming to my three kids, Leon, then 11, Lily, 10, and Ethan, 9.
I’d split from their dad two years earlier, and was careful about who I brought into their lives.
But it felt different with Danny.
After a couple of months, he moved in with us.
He’d play with the kids, make them laugh, collect them from school if I had a shift.
One afternoon soon after, I arrived home from work.
Chucking my handbag on the sofa, I noticed the cushions had been plumped.
The toys usually littering the floor had been neatly tidied away, too.
‘Just had a whizz round with the vacuum cleaner,’ Danny shrugged.
Just then, Lily ran over and wrapped me in a hug.
‘Danny made us spaghetti bolognese for tea,’ she said.
‘What have I done to deserve you?’ I grinned at Danny.
And I meant it.
I felt lucky to have such a good man in my life.
Only, in December 2019, I was behind the bar at work when Danny walked in, followed by two girls. I frowned. Danny often drank with them, they were a rowdy pair.
And I’d heard them slagging me off before.
‘Why are you even with her,’ one sneered to Danny.
It was hurtful.
We’d only been together a few months, and as Danny flirted, it felt like he was making a mockery of our blossoming relationship.
So, that night, when the kids were watching TV, I confronted him.
‘What’s with you and those girls?’ I demanded.
Danny looked up from his phone, where his eyes had been fixed all evening.
‘Are you accusing me of cheating?’ he snapped.
‘No, but I heard their nasty comments. It’s not nice,’ I said.
‘It’s you I love,’ he insisted. But his mood shifted, I could tell he was annoyed.
Later, as I walked up the stairs, I noticed Danny sitting on the steps.
Suddenly, he charged, pushing me hard.
I hurtled down the stairs, smashing my head against the wall.
In a daze, I sat up to see Danny flying towards me.
He pinned me down in the hallway, fists raining, every punch rippling agony through my body.
Cowering in fear, I desperately tried to cover my face.
‘Please stop,’
I begged, thinking of my kids in the living room.
Danny was silent as he
I heard his little voice whisper... hatching a plan
continued to beat me. Flailing and hitting out, I managed to wriggle free as he fell backwards.
Running to the kitchen, I grabbed my phone to dial 999.
But Danny was too fast. He knocked the phone from my hand and hurled me against the tumble dryer.
Grabbing a knife, he tried to slash my face. Luckily, it was blunt. Straddling me, he then gripped his hands around
my throat and squeezed. I couldn’t breathe. I’m going to die, I thought. Only, just then, I heard Leon’s little voice whispering to his brother and sister. ‘You two stay there,’ he hushed, hatching a plan. Within seconds, Danny’s hands released their vicelike grip from my throat. Gasping for breath, I scrambled up.
Saw Leon standing over Danny.
He’d grabbed our vacuum cleaner, picked up the steel wand and had started whacking Danny with it! ‘Run! Get help,’ I cried to Leon, who fled with Lily and Ethan to find a neighbour. But Danny dragged them back inside, just as they’d stepped through the front door. ‘No,’ I screamed. Still, Leon had bought me precious seconds to ring 999.
‘The police will be here any minute,’ I warned Danny, who suddenly legged it.
Wrapping my arms around Leon, I was in awe.
My 11-year-old son had saved me.
‘You’re my hero,’ I gushed, pride quelling the agony pulsing through my body.
Even the police were stunned when they arrived.
I was taken to hospital, left with a broken hand, a lot of bruising and scratches.
The kids were upset for a long time.
Became really clingy. But, thankfully, Danny had been arrested, charged with assault.
‘And I promise, he’s never coming back,’ I told the kids.
Shortly after, Leon received a bravery award from Essex Police.
Watching the presentation ceremony at the police station, my eyes glistened with tears of pride.
I couldn’t help but think what could’ve happened if Leon hadn’t acted so bravely, so quickly.
Protecting not only me, but his little brother and sister.
In June 2020, at Basildon Crown Court, Daniel Newton, 31, was jailed for two years and seven months for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and grievous bodily harm.
As a family, we’re moving on, and being at home so much during the pandemic gave us a chance to heal, spend quality time together.
Monsters like Danny belong behind bars.
I’m just so glad Leon,now 12, was around to save me.
My hero boy and his vacuum cleaner.