A mother-of-three who helped convict her abusive boyfriend has urged girls in equally harmful relationships to contact the police to carry their companions to justice.
Hannah Martin, 32, was repeatedly assaulted by then-boyfriend Hayden Wykes throughout their 18-month relationship.
He additionally claimed she was an unfit mom, made derogatory feedback about her look, and went by her telephone as a part of his controlling behaviour.
The abuse solely got here to an finish after Wykes broke Mrs Martin’s ribs throughout a three-hour assault.
Mrs Martin secretly contacted Northamptonshire Police’s home violence unit after the ordeal and begged for assist.
Wykes was arrested and jailed for practically 4 years final month after pleading responsible to a number of assaults and the comparatively new offence of controlling and coercive behaviour.
Talking out to guard different girls
Mrs Martin mentioned she felt compelled to talk publicly about her ordeal within the hope it’ll give others the braveness to contact police.
Recalling the second she determined to telephone the police, she mentioned: “I believed it is a large danger for me to take, however I’ve received to take the prospect.
“I would like folks to know that, while you do make the decision, you might be 100% going to be supported.
“I really feel actually empowered now… and I am not petrified of him any extra.
“It simply proves that it may be performed. As a result of, belief me, in that second (the ultimate assault), I wished to die.
“And for the primary time in a very long time now, I do not wish to die, and I am excited for the remainder of my life.”
Hayden Wykes was jailed for nearly 4 years after Hannah Martin contacted the police
‘Trauma bond’ with abuser
Mrs Martin, who runs her personal cleansing enterprise in Northampton, mentioned the connection with Wykes began properly and that she rapidly fell in love.
However he quickly turned abusive, prompting her to cease assembly up with associates as a result of she feared she was “too ugly or too fats”. She additionally lied to members of the family in a bid to clarify away her accidents.
Wykes was initially arrested after neighbours turned involved a few home incident a number of months into the connection.
However the pair rekindled their romance when he was launched on bail, unbeknown to the police, and the violence began once more.
Mrs Martin mentioned she had a “trauma bond” with Wykes, which means she sought out his firm once more regardless of realizing how his behaviour affected her.
Learn extra: Duchess of Cornwall and Theresa May back campaign urging abuse victims to seek help through NHS
“I used to be so lonely and I genuinely missed him,” she mentioned. “All I remembered was all the great occasions as a result of when an abuser is beautiful, they’re pretty.
“After which slowly, daily, they will begin nit-picking little bits after a bit bit, after which there will be a giant situation, after which the cycle begins once more.”
Mrs Martin mentioned Wykes made her consider she was liable for his violent episodes, and every time promised it will not occur once more.
‘I might have died if I might stayed with him’
The ultimate assault, nevertheless, left Mrs Martin needing hospital therapy and she or he determined to textual content her devoted home violence officer, PC Gina Anderson, asking for assist – regardless of feeling “responsible” for turning on her boyfriend.
Mrs Martin mentioned: “For this reason it is so arduous to get away since you really feel such as you’re in love with them, you possibly can’t breathe with out them.
“However I might have died if I stayed with him.”
Learn extra: Police urged to act after three-quarters of cases fail to end in charges
Wykes was arrested at work the next day.
Mrs Martin was then capable of hand over months’ value of proof towards him after documenting the abuse she suffered in textual content messages despatched to her good friend, which Mrs Martin swiftly deleted from her telephone for worry of Wykes discovering them.
“I do not know what I might have performed with out her (PC Anderson),” Mrs Martin mentioned. “I really feel like she’s actually saved my life.”
In a message to folks in abusive relationships throughout the nation, she mentioned: “Put your belief within the police as a result of they’re phenomenal, and I am unable to thank them sufficient.
“My life’s utterly circled.”
Hannah Martin helped carry her accomplice to justice after he assaulted her repeatedly
Police: ‘We’re right here to assist’
PC Anderson, 33, praised Mrs Martin for her bravery, and mentioned she hoped her story would encourage others to contact the police.
She mentioned: “I do know it is a scary course of. And I do know it is a actually huge step, to come back ahead to the police or to any company and report home violence, particularly in situations of controlling and coercive behaviour.
“However what I might say to folks is, for those who come ahead to us, you’ll be believed, we are going to do all the pieces we will to achieve your belief and present you that we’re right here to assist.”
And he or she urged folks to be looking out and act if they’ve considerations {that a} member of the family, good friend or colleague may be trapped in an abusive relationship.
“Individuals say home abuse is nearly a taboo topic, nevertheless it’s not,” she mentioned.
“We have to break down these limitations.
“And for those who see one thing and you do not really feel it is fairly proper, otherwise you’ve received considerations, simply have that dialog with any person, as a result of that may very well be the place to begin.”
The free Nationwide Home Abuse Helpline is on 0808 2000 247
