”He beat me brutally – for undercooking his dinner”
After suffering a vicious attack by her serial abuser boyfriend, Michelle Mundt, 33, from glasgow, wants to give others strength by telling her story
'Settling on the sofa, I started swiping through Tinder. As a busy single mum, I’d been running around after my daughter Lucy*, now 10, all day and had been looking forward to some me-time – and a bit of flirting online.
It was November 2014 and I’d been single for six years. I was flattered by the attention I got on Tinder, but I’d never found anyone special. But that night a handsome man caught my eye and I swiped right. My phone pinged immediately and Scott Howell, now
33, wrote, “How are you doing?”
Scott, an electrician, lived 20 minutes away from me. He was funny and had been an Army reserve. Who could resist a man in uniform?
On our first date we had such a connection that I invited him back to mine for a drink.
After we became a couple, I introduced Scott to Lucy – and he quickly treated her as his own. The next step was a family New Year’s Eve party – I was sure they’d love Scott. He was nervous so he had a few drinks for Dutch courage, but instead of giving him a little boost he got lairy and told embarrassing stories about what we got up to in the bedroom. My family were horrified and
I didn’t know where to look.
The next day, my mum Margaret told me bluntly, “I’m not keen on Scott.”
“He was just nervous about meeting everyone. Give him a chance,” I begged.
I’d been a single mum for so long and felt Lucy needed a dad. As Scott was so good with her I really wanted it to work with him.
But after about a year together, we started to bicker. During a couple of rows Scott hit me, but he’d be so sorry and really nice after.
He’d said when we met that he’d been in a bad relationship before, and that he and his ex, Emma, hit each other. I believed him when he said they were just bad for each other.
Scott was keen to be a dad, so in January 2017, we started trying for a baby. Six months later, we were delighted when I fell pregnant.
“I’d better get building a cot!” Scott said, proudly.
Lucy was so excited when my 16-week scan showed she would soon have a baby brother. James* was born in March 2017, weighing 7lb 13oz.
I thought becoming a dad would be the making of Scott, but he left the night feeds and nappies to me. It was like I was still a single mum. But when I confronted him he shrugged and said I was better at looking after the baby.
My family guessed there was trouble. Scott was rude to my mum and sisters, writing snide things on Facebook he swore were just jokes. But I was desperate to make things work.
Mood Swings
Slowly things improved, and in March 2018 we all had a lovely family meal out together. But the next day Scott’s bad mood was back. “What do you fancy for dinner?” I asked. “I don’t know,” he grunted, then agreed to chicken Kiev and waffles.
He cut into it and the garlicky butter oozed out. It smelled delicious, but he said, “I’m not hungry. I’m going to bed.”
I sighed as Scott headed upstairs, then I drifted off on the sofa with James. I hoped Scott would be happier in the morning.
But he stomped downstairs the next day and snapped, “Don’t you talk to me! You tried to feed me undercooked chicken!”
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said, but Scott shouted,“you tried to kill me!”
It was only 9am, but he cracked open a can of lager. I steered clear upstairs with Lucy and James, but whenever I had to go downstairs for something Scott would scream abuse at me. “You’re fat and lazy,” he ranted.
My dad Alec and stepmum Margaret were due over, so I pleaded with Scott to calm down. But when I went to help James drink from his sippy cup, Scott flew into a rage.
“You’re doing it wrong!” he screeched in my face.
I started crying and Scott snatched the cup and threw it at me, soaking me. He smashed a glass and yelled, “I could murder you.”
Then, suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders and head-butted me. I collapsed in a heap as he stomped into Lucy’s bedroom and told her he hated me.
Terrified, I noticed my dad arriving outside so I dashed to the front door. Catching sight of my face, Dad was horrified.
“Has he done this to you?” he said.
I was hysterical and couldn’t get my words out. Dad marched into the house and ordered Scott to leave.
“Have you seen her face?” my dad shouted angrily.
“That’s what she makes me do,” Scott replied.
Dad phoned the police and they arrived within minutes to arrest Scott. As he was hauled away he spat at the policewoman.
I didn’t recognise myself in the mirror. I had two huge black eyes and a lump on my head. I didn’t go to hospital, but I went to the GP a few days later because I was so badly bruised.
I was so shaken up that Mum stayed with me so I’d feel safe. I lied to Lucy, saying the bruises were from slipping in snow, but a week later I confessed that Scott had hurt me as she wasn’t buying it.
Scott was charged with assault and threatening behaviour, but I was shocked when he was released on bail. That very day Mum saw him hiding in my garden shed. We called the police, but he ran off before they arrived and it was days before he was caught.
He went to court for breaking bail, but got out with the same conditions – not to contact me.
previous conviction
In June 2018, Scott pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting me, spitting on a policewoman and carrying a knuckle-duster, which, thankfully, he had not used on me and I never saw. He also admitted breaching a bail condition by being in my garden.
I went to the hearing, but didn’t have to say anything as Scott pleaded guilty. I didn’t want to let him get to me, but I felt nervous as I walked past him. In the end, I couldn’t stay to listen to his so-called punishment as I felt sick having to face him again.
I was so disappointed when the judge handed Scott a one-year Community Payback Order with the condition that he was supervised. She also granted a two-year non-harassment order preventing him from approaching or contacting me.
Sickened, I couldn’t believe Scott had escaped justice. He deserved to go to prison for his vile attack on me. I was dealt yet another blow when he uploaded a photo of himself sticking two fingers up outside court after he’d dodged jail.
I also learned from a newspaper’s court report that Scott had previously been convicted of terrorising his ex-girlfriend Emma Barlow.
He’d lied to me about that. It said he’d told her to commit suicide, threatened to kill her and bombarded her with disturbing texts and calls.
Scott shouldn’t have been allowed to walk free. He’s warped and dangerous and can’t be trusted. I worry what he’s capable of and that he’ll go on to abuse other women.
I’m staying positive, but dread seeing Scott again. I’m not sure where he lives, but I’ll see him in court soon as he wants access to James. I’m scared he’ll try to poison my son against me – or even not return him after a visit.
But I refuse to let what Scott did defeat me. He is a monster, not a man.
I want other women who are being abused to know they don’t have to stay with their partner. There’s help out there.