When I started this petition, I never imagined how many survivors would reach out to me. This week, a brave lady shared her story. She wanted to remain anonymous, but she also wanted people to understand what domestic abuse can really look like.

Firstly, I’d like to say a huge thank you to the brave survivor who trusted me with her story. She has chosen to remain anonymous, and I’ve shared her story with her permission.

“My story’s not your typical abuse story, or at least that’s what I tell myself.

I was with my ex-husband for 17 years. I got pregnant within six months, and he was an alcoholic.

I finally decided to separate after years of him sending gifts to other women and chatting to lots of women online. I later found out he’d spent thousands of pounds on them.

When we separated, it was torture.

Him and his family tried to bully me out of my home. He would take the internet router out with him, so me and my daughter had no internet access. No TV, no Alexa, no games consoles, no PC… nothing.

He wouldn’t allow me into other rooms apart from the bedroom I was sleeping in. He even locked our family dog in the room with me.

He also made humiliating and degrading accusations about me, claiming I was being unfaithful and constantly demanding to check my phone.

I received abuse and threats from his sister too.

One day, he stabbed our mattress around 40 times and threatened to do the same to me.

He was charged with a Section 38 offence but was found not guilty. Since then, he’s continued to harass me on social media.

Everything has been logged with the police, but because he was found not guilty there are unfortunately no bail conditions in place.

The police have been absolutely useless. I had a couple of male officers who gave me good advice, like getting a Ring doorbell and ways to protect myself, but overall I just feel completely let down.”

Sadly, this survivor’s experience also highlights another issue that isn’t talked about enough.

Domestic abuse often happens behind closed doors, with no independent witnesses and very little evidence beyond the victim’s account. Because of this, many cases never result in a conviction, even when victims genuinely believe they have been abused. The criminal courts have a high standard of proof, and where that standard isn’t met, defendants must be found not guilty.

For many survivors, this can leave them feeling as though they have not been believed, while also meaning there may be fewer legal protections available to keep them safe afterwards. Even when abuse has been reported and concerns are known to the police, victims can still find themselves living with ongoing fear, harassment and intimidation.

No survivor should feel that asking for help leaves them more vulnerable. We need a system that not only pursues justice where there is sufficient evidence, but also ensures victims are properly safeguarded when there are ongoing concerns about their safety.

Thank you again to this survivor for sharing something so personal.

Her story is another reminder that domestic abuse isn’t always what people expect. It can be years of coercive control, intimidation, humiliation, threats and harassment that continue long after a relationship ends.

This is exactly why I’m campaigning for stronger protections for victims and a review of how repeat violent offenders are managed.

If you have your own story and would like it to be shared anonymously as part of this campaign, please send me a message. Your voice matters, and together we can help others understand the reality that so many survivors face every day.

💜 Every survivor has a story. Every story deserves to be heard. Every signature helps us push for change.💜