Domestic abuse: Survivors stories

Refuge Logo Four women describe their years of torment and how they finally found the courage to escape their violent marriages

Janet's story
Peter was cunning. No matter how hard he hit me, he was always careful never to mark my face. My family realised what was happening and wanted me to call the police but I couldn't press charges. I was terrified. Read more

Catherine's story
He pushed me back on to the sofa and hit me again and again and again. Then he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me upstairs to our bedroom. He disappeared and when he came back he had a knife. I've never been more scared than I was at that moment. Read more

Michelle's story
I stuck with him because every time he kicked or punched me he said he was sorry. And he always told me how much he loved me. Then I got pregnant and it got ten times worse. In the end he kicked me so badly that I lost the baby. That was when I saw the light and got out. Read more

Stacey's story
We'd both come in late from work and there would be dinner to cook, the house would be a tip, and all he could think about was when we'd have sex. If we left it more than a couple of days the tension was terrible - he'd hardly even look at me and I felt like he hated me. So more often than not I'd do it just to get the man who loved me back again. Read more

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Further reading: Power and Control: Why charming men can make dangerous lovers, by Sandra Horley Refuge Chief Executive.