After experiencing ten years of abuse and constant promises from her husband that he would change, Irina ended the relationship in March 2015, after he became aggressive in front of friends. Although Irina sometimes misses the good times that she had with her Prince Charming', she no longer lives in fear or feels like a prisoner in her own home.

Tasha met her abusive ex-partner in 2001. During their nine years together, for six of which they were married, Tasha experienced emotional, sexual and financial abuse. Since the relationship ended in 2010, Tasha has been assaulted physically on two occasions by her ex. At the time of the interview he was continuing to exert control over her through their children, causing her on-going emotional distress.

Sarah met her first serious boyfriend when she was 18. Their relationship lasted two years, during which they lived separately, each at their parents homes. Her boyfriend was jealous and possessive, did not like her seeing friends and questioned her in detail about other men' if she went out. She mistook this as a sign of his love, only realising years later that it was the beginning of his controlling, abusive behaviour.

It wasn't until she had left her long-term partner in 2014 and attended the Freedom Programme that Anna began to recognise the extent of domestic abuse she had experienced for 10 years. Although she has recovered from the physical bruises she is unsure how long the mental side will take to heal'.

A worker from the local specialist domestic abuse service helped Penny to recognise that her partner was abusive. However, it was a message from his previous partner to get out' of the relationship that actually motivated her to leave him five years ago. She is now in a new, healthy relationship.

Melanie described living in abuse' for many years. She was abused by a family member as a toddler, a teacher when she was age 11 and then from a number of intimate partners. She has recently escaped a coercive controlling relationship and is beginning to speak out about her experiences, to help others.

Jane left her abusive relationship of twenty years three years ago after her eldest daughter reported to her school that she had witnessed abuse towards her mother. The support offered to Jane from different agencies (including Social Services, the Police, her children's school and a local Domestic Violence and Abuse Agency) helped her to leave the relationship and to move on.

Jessica knew something was wrong in her marriage but it was only when a friend recommended the Freedom Programme that she realised that her husband was controlling and abusive and it wasn't up to her to keep trying to hold the marriage together'. With the help of a friend she left, with only a plastic bag'.

Jacqui's husband subjected her to physical, verbal, emotional and financial abuse. His escalating violence motivated her to disclose to her GP about the cause of her serious injuries. They referred her to a local Domestic Violence and Abuse Agency and with the help of a support worker she started to make the preparations needed to leave the relationship.

Kate experienced financial, physical, verbal, sexual and emotional-psychological abuse during her eight year relationship, which ended two years ago. She is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is engaged in on-going child contact issues and is yet to feel free from the abusive relationship.