150 attacked every day in domestic abuse shock

Sep 20 2009 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

Love quickly turned to violence

WHEN friendship turned to love between Louise and her close friend Sean she felt sure a loving future lay ahead.

But several months and several beatings later, she was left fearing for her life.

Last week, the 18-year-old finally summoned up the courage to seek help and she and her baby boy are now safe, thanks to Wearside Women in Need.

With support from care workers at the Sunderland-based charity, Louise has taken out an injunction on her former partner and says she can now look forward to the future with her one-year-old son.

She said: “Sean and I had been friends for years so I thought long and hard before we got together because I didn’t want to lose our friendship.

“I was pregnant at the time with my son from a previous relationship, and Sean was a great support to me. We didn’t live together, but saw each other all the time and everything was going great, he treated me so nicely, and I couldn’t imagine he had such a violent side.

“But after the baby came along everything changed.

“One night, I wanted to go out with my friends but he demanded I spent time with him instead, so I went to his house and as soon as I walked in the door he punched me in the face.

“I’ve never been through something like that so I was in shock. He dragged me by my hair across the floor and choked me until I was unconscious, then took me outside before punching me in the stomach.

“He locked me in the house, so I had to wait until he fell asleep before I could get out and go to my mum’s, who was horrified.

“We split up but he soon talked his way back into my life, promising he would never do it again and that he loved me, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.”

Months of emotional and physical abuse followed, culminating in a vicious attack which finally prompted Louise to call for help.

She said: “He threw a heater across the room into my face. That’s when I called the police, who put me in touch with agencies who could help me.

“Since then my son and I have been in a refuge and it’s been fine. Everyone here understands what I’ve been through – many have been through similar experiences – so we help each other.

“It’s a fantastic source of support and now I can look forward to seeing my son grow up.”