Zoe Dronfield, 45, from Coventry, West Midlands
Jason Smith and I started dating at the end of 2012. I was a single mum to two young kids, and Jason was my saviour – offering to help me out by picking them up, or going to the shops.
He was the perfect man.
But it wasn’t long before things started to unravel.
Jason lost his job, and started drinking in the day.
As Christmas drew nearer, he started putting me down.
It was always worse when he’d had a drink, too, which was more often than not.
I was walking on eggshells, and it made me question my own behaviour.
On Christmas Eve, I excitedly wrapped up all my kids’ presents and put treats out for Father Christmas.
They were only four and eight, and I wanted to make it special for them.
But Jason came home after drinking all day, and carried on into the night.
I knew he’d be looking for a fight, and I didn’t want his behaviour around my kids.
But by then, I was in too deep. He’d worn me down.
A few days later, Jason wanted my dad’s car keys.
I’d hidden them, and he was furious about it.
‘Give me the keys,’ he snarled, and he shoved me.
I fell hard into the corner of my dressing table. He’d broken my rib. But he’d chipped away at my confidence and self-esteem, he made me feel like I needed him. So I took him back.
As we posed for a picture on New Year’s Eve, my smile hid the pain.
It all built up to a horrific attack in February 2014.
Jason attacked me with a knife and a meat cleaver during eight hours of torture, and left me for dead.
Finally, I found the strength to speak out. In 2014 he was convicted of GBH with intent, and jailed for 10 years.
I found out he was a serial offender, and now, I feel so strongly about helping others.
