February 2003
Hitting Home - Gabby's story | |
|  | | "I never knew groups like Women's Aid existed" |
| | For Gabby, who's in her forties, domestic violence was a real shock. She was brought up in a very loving, caring family, with parents who never rowed |
| | | Things went wrong very soon after she met her partner. "He wouldn’t allow me to work or allow me out of the door.
"My family had moved to New York so I had no support network nearby and about two weeks into the relationship he started hitting me.
 I realised if I hadn’t escaped, I would be dead  | | Gabby |
"I can remember the first time he hit me, I was in the kitchen, and I’d boiled some potatoes that had gone to mash and he got his hands around my throat and hit my head against the wall because I couldn’t cook. It just escalated and escalated."
Having no experience of domestic violence, she had no idea where to turn.
"I never knew about groups like Women's Aid existed. Eventually I just knew I had to get out. I remember going home, grabbing a pack of nappies, and leaving. Somehow I ended up in a refuge. I don't know how."
 | | The BBC will consider effects of violence on everyone |
She remembers being interviewed by the manager and then locking herself in her room for three days."
I was too scared to go out of the room. I was suffering from depression. Eventually I realised I was safe, he was in prison and I’ve completely and utterly turned my life around. But I realised if I hadn’t escaped, I would be dead."
Today she's the manager of the refuge that helped her, bringing her first hand knowledge to those in need of help and protection.
"When I was in the relationship I didn’t ever expect that I would one day be living a free life, a happy life, a new life for my son". | | | |
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