‘I thought I was dying. I tried to sit up but I fell’
BEATING AT HANDS OF THUG BOYFRIEND
A BRAVE woman has spoken out after she was punched, choked unconscious and had her head smashed on the floor by her monster boyfriend.
Paige Hegarty thought she was gong to die after Elliot Beckwith left her with a catalogue of savage injuries during what was supposed to be a night out.
The drama graduate from Rochdale has released these shocking photos of her injuries – which included fractures to her cheekbone and eye socket.
This week Beckwith was given a suspended jail sentence for pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his then partner after a petty row.
And Miss Hegarty, 21, urged other victims of domestic violence to speak out.
She said: “I was unconscious, bleeding on the floor. I thought I was dying. I tried to sit up but fell back down. I came out of hospital with a broken eye socket, fractured cheekbone, a deep cut to my ear and multiple bruising.
“I have permanent nerve damage on the left side of my face and am suffering from PTSD.
“I would say he’s a monster. I hope his life is as bad as he’s made mine.”
Although she has now managed to finish her university course, graduating with a 2:1, Miss Hegarty said the trauma of the attack earlier this year led to her losing her ‘dream job’ as a freelance lighting designer for a theatre company.
She is angry that Beckwith escaped a jail sentence, claiming that he was originally charged with GBH with intent only to face the lesser charge of GBH.
Leeds Crown Court heard that Beckwith, 21, launched the attack after they rowed several times over the evening of April 4. Christopher Styles, representing Beckwith, said he had been admitted to psychiatric hospital last year after trying to kill himself and was awaiting further treatment at the time of the assault, which he deeply regretted. Beckwith, now of Lingwell Gate Lane, Lofthouse, Wakefield, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was given 16 months suspended for two years, 250 hours unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity days and a fivemonth curfew from 8pm to 7am. Recorder Simon Jackson QC said violence against women was unacceptable, but he was imposing such a sentence because of his psychiatric problems and need for help and treatment. Paige Hegarty