Bridport & Lyme Regis News - News, Sport, Homes, Jobs, Cars and Local Information in West Dorset

Is this justice?

From the archive, first published Wednesday 13th Feb 2008.

DOMESTIC violence has robbed Danielle of her home, her health and her job.

At 38, she is living on benefits in a Bournemouth council flat and still taking anti-depressants to help numb the pain of years of mental and physical abuse.

There have been countless times when the mother-of-two has contemplated ending her life; on her darkest days she has overdosed in a vain attempt to end her agony.

Now unfit to work, Danielle is struggling to accept why the man she claims tried to smother and strangle her during a two-hour attack at their home was found not guilty by Bournemouth magistrates earlier this year.

She says: "I never wanted to press charges but I was encouraged to take a stand against domestic violence; with hindsight I'd never go through it all again.

"In court I felt I was to blame for what had happened, not him. Now I've lost everything. While he and his new girlfriend can afford go off on exotic holidays, we are struggling to find the money to put in our electricity meter."

The man Danielle claims destroyed her life was her childhood sweetheart. "We met when I was 13; our first child was born three years later," she says.

"Sean was quiet and looked like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but he had a violent temper. I worked full-time but he controlled our finances and my life; telling me what to wear and flying into rages when I went out with friends.

"He was very jealous. I can't remember the first time he attacked me; I think our daughter was about eight when he tried to strangle me.

"My car had broken down and a male colleague offered me a lift home. Sean was so angry he tried to drown me in the bath, holding my head under water until I thought I was going to die. Despite it all, I still thought he would change and always blamed myself. I still do," she reflects sadly.

"Sean always said sorry and got what he wanted, right up to the end."

It was only when a friend talked Danielle into seeing a doctor following an incident in June 2006 that she decided to give evidence against him.

"I'd gone out with friends. When I came back Sean kicked me out of bed and stamped on me while I was on the floor, with his steel toe capped boots.

"He put a pillow over my head and held it there for so long he damaged my larynx. I couldn't speak for a fortnight.

"Every part of my body was black and blue; I don't know how but I managed to get to a friend's house. Even now my knees are swollen and I feel like I've arthritis in every joint.

"The attack was so violent the doctor contacted social services. Because of fears for my son's safety I couldn't go back home."

Painful memories flooded back when Danielle eventually ended up in a Bournemouth hostel for the homeless.

"It was the second time I'd been there; when my parents split up it had been a children's home and I'd stayed there before being fostered. My father was also a violent man and it was like I was back to where it had all started.

"My son had to change schools; when I went back to pick up our belongings from our former home the locks had been changed. I finally got a council flat but hadn't a stick of furniture to put in it.

"I thought records showing Sean's phone calls and texts after what he he'd done to me and photographs of my injuries would make a difference in court; but it didn't. He walked away without a criminal record and I've was left feeling like a liar."

Danielle has sent a formal letter of complaint to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Dorset's chief crown prosecutor Kate Brown said: "It is unfortunate that this case took so long to reach a conclusion, this was due to a number of reasons not least because the defendant changed his plea during the course of proceedings.

"This case was properly brought and all the evidence was put before the court. Magistrates did not find the case could be proved beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted the defendant.

" One of the prosecution witnesses gave unexpected undermining evidence that we were unaware of when we made the decision to prosecute.

"We are sorry to hear about the experiences of this victim and will be responding to her complaint in full as soon as possible.

"Her experience is not typical. Since April 2007 specialist domestic violence courts have been running in Dorset which fast-track the prosecution process and provide enhanced specialist support for victims.

"We hope the experience of this victim does not stop other victims of domestic violence coming forward."

To protect identities names have been changed.