He stopped me buying train tickets so he could ‘spend more time with me’
AS DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES SOAR AFTER LOCKDOWN, A SURVIVOR TELLS HER STORY TO HELP OTHERS
WHEN Lisa’s boyfriend locked her in the house, he said it was to ‘keep her safe.’
When he took away her bank card to stop her buying train tickets he claimed he just wanted to spend more time with her.
But when she woke up with her boyfriend on top of her, she knew she had to get out.
Lisa was eight weeks pregnant and only 19-years-old when she left her abusive partner.
She says she could not have done it without the help of Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (TDAS), which is marking 30 years by opening a new refuge.
Since coronavirus began, domestic violence campaigners have warned of a rise in cases during lockdown.
Campaigners say the new sixbedroom facility will be vital as refuges all around the country are at capacity. They are expecting an increase in people referring themselves for help as restrictions ease.
Here, Lisa explains how the service helped her in her darkest hour. She says: “He would lock me in the house ‘to keep me safe,’ as he would say.
“He used to hide my bank card so I couldn’t buy train tickets to get back home, but it wasn’t malicious he just ‘wanted to spend more time with me.’
“The first time I ever questioned his behaviour was when I woke to him on top of me, holding me down; there were sexual things happening without me consenting to it as I was asleep.
Lisa was eight weeks pregnant when she ended the relationship, but says her ex-partner continued the intimidation.
She said: “I didn’t feel safe at home, I couldn’t leave the house without having anxiety attacks. I picked up the phone to TDAS.
“I felt silly at first. I felt like my situation wasn’t worthy of calling these helplines, but they were so incredibly helpful.
“I couldn’t have got to where I am today without TDAS.”
Samantha Fisher, TDAS CEO, said: “This new refuge, Lotus House, will come just in time for many people who are needing to get out of abusive situations.”