Non-Problem > Please Read Rita Crombies Story (#15309)
Please, please, please read Rita Crombie's story (I know that The Sun have run it).

She met a man and fell for him. He started bullying her and making remarks which undermined her self confidence.

Their arguments grew worse.

He started to hit her during arguments. He started to hit her whenever she was spending too much time with her children.

She left him. She took him back. She gave up her job to keep him happy. She didn't see her friends or family. She was treading on eggshells to avoid the arguments.

Then one day he hit her in a face with a hammer and slashed at her with a knife. Her 5 year old son was standing in a doorway watching. She managed to escape through a window as he was trying to pull her back in by her ankles.

It took 5 hours of reconstructive surgery in hospital to 'put her back together' physically.

The abuse had begun so subtly with put downs and arguments and escalated to her being smashed in the face with a hammers - she had been with him for 10 years. Her children had seen all of this.

She is not one of the 700 women who die every year through domestic abuse related incidents. She is very lucky to have survived.

One in four women will be affected by domestic abuse at some point in their lives. If this has affected you Women's Aid are always available to help 24 hours a day 365 days a year on 0808 2000 247. Please put this in your phone under an inconspicuous name if it is safe for you to do so (Wendy or Susan for example).



WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 spread the word Belle - 12/3/2009 8:17:32 AM - Country: United Kingdom - Close Problem Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this comment
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Comments & Replies

Thanks Belle - this is a subject that I feel very strongly about (thankfully I have a husband who has never even raised his voice to me - a hand? He'd cut them off first god love him).

Why women are made to feel like its their fault I'll never understand. This is a subject that must must be taken seriously. I know some will rightly say that men are also victims of domestic violence too and this must be treated with equal seriousness, BUT, 4 in 5 incidents are against women.

No domestic violence is acceptable. No one has to put up with being a victim of such abuse. It is up to all of us to make it our business to stop it.

WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - spread the word.
Loobie - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/3/2009 8:39:49 AMComment ID: 57976- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
Hey Loobie! My goodness you put that one on fast! Have you seen the article with the picture of her face?

Belle - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/3/2009 8:59:07 AMComment ID: 57977- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/2754188/Domestic-abuse-victim-Rita-Crombie-tells-her-story.html

I've got it Belle. I hope people out there read this and, if they are being abused, have the courage to leave.
Indie - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/3/2009 9:07:13 AMComment ID: 57978- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
I must have been in the Moderators area when you posted it Belle, yes I've seen those pics, they're just bloody awlful...
Loobie - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/3/2009 9:40:55 AMComment ID: 57979- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
In the past few months more and more people are contacting me with queries about what to do and how to leave abusive relationships and I will answer as many e-mails as I can.

I will always advise women to plan carefully, store away as many documents as you can in advance and stash them in the bottom of your handbag, with a friend, a relative or in a drawer at work. Any ID, papers relating to bank accounts, benefits papers will all be very useful when seeking accommodation and setting up Housing Benefit, etceteras.

Storing a change of clothes is a good idea if you can, and any irreplacable photos or sentimental items that you can take away without the abusive partner noticing. It is also a good idea to see if you can have an "emergency £20" in case you need a taxi in an emergency.

Health Visitors, doctors and nurses are all trained to help in these circumstances and can help you to plan to leave in a safe way and they are willing and want to help. A lot of people worry about leaving when they have children, but school places can be arranged, new furniture can be purchased for you and children will be much happier and much safer without being present in a home where domestic abuse occurs, even if the abuse is only verbal. In 90% of domestic abuse incidents reported to the police where children reside in the home they have been present in the home when it has happened and the impact that this has can be devestating in the long run.

Women's Aid and the other agencies who work alongside them can arrange for Restraining Orders to make sure that women who leave are safe. Local Councils have a legal duty to rehouse women who leave abusive relationships and do so on the same day. Benefits can be arranged and in emergencies like this emergency payments can be arranged.

Women's Aid can also arrange for counselling and support and can also arrange for counselling and therapy for children.

The average survivor of domestic abuse is likely to have called the police 15 times, but have suffered over 35 incidents of abuse before they leave for the first time.

It is never acceptable for someone to abuse another person regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, whatever.

If you haven't experienced domestic abuse for yourself and you are not one of the 1 in 4 women who have, please think carefully. 1 in 4 - it could be your best friend, your mother, your sister, your colleague at work, your neighbour.

When Rita Crombie screamed for her neighbour who called the emergency services, that neighbour saved her life. Rita Crombie was someone's friend, someone's daughter, perhaps someone's sister.

WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 spread the word
Belle - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/3/2009 3:30:13 PMComment ID: 57991- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - spread the word
Anonymous - Posted: 12/4/2009 5:56:10 AMComment ID: 58007- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
Even from a bloke's point of view I don't understand how one human can inflict this onto another. It really beggars belief.

WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - spread the word.
fredsaid - (Add As Friend) - Posted: 12/4/2009 5:59:22 AMComment ID: 58008- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - spread the word!!
Anonymous - Posted: 12/4/2009 8:40:17 AMComment ID: 58013- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
WOMENS'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - Spread the word
Anonymous - Posted: 12/4/2009 10:49:51 AMComment ID: 58016- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 - spread the word

Milady X xx
Anonymous - Posted: 12/4/2009 12:04:35 PMComment ID: 58018- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!
WOMEN'S AID - 0808 2000 247 spread the word

Abs
Anonymous - Posted: 12/4/2009 6:14:03 PMComment ID: 58032- Offensive? Unsuitable? Report this commentNominate This Reply For A Mug!

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