'I thought I'd die': Abuse victim tells of terror in the hands of ex as she praises landmark 'new girlfriend' order

Terror: Shira was subjected to horrific violence in the hands of her ex-partner
BBC
Chloe Chaplain5 April 2017
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A woman who feared for her life at the hands of her abusive ex-partner has welcomed a landmark ruling which means he must tell police when he starts a new relationship.

The woman, who only wished to be identified as Shira, told how ex-boyfriend Kylle Godfrey put her through “hell… physically, mentally and emotionally” with horrific abuse.

In one brutal attack Godfrey, from Brent, repeatedly “smashed” her head on the floor – leaving her terrified that she was going to die.

Godfrey, 30, has now been issued with a “new girlfriend” order which means he must inform police of any relationship lasting more than 14 days.

The Criminal Behaviour Order – believed to be the first of its kind issued in England and Wales – also allows police to inform future partners of his violent past.

Shira told the BBC that the abuse started shortly after she met Godfrey in 2011.

"The first incident was a few months after we met and it started over the phone,” she said. “I thought he was being overprotective but he was really being jealous.

Abuse: Kylle Godfrey was sentenced to three years and handed the court order

"He was constantly checking on me on the phone, being paranoid and accusing me of things all the time.

"I went through hell with him physically, mentally and emotionally, and now I can see I risked my life with him."

She said Godfrey became "more and more" violent towards her and remembers one occasion involving him "smashing my head on the floor four or five times".

She said: "I thought 'I'm going to die.'

"I just had a little pray, and I realised no-one deserves to be in that position. My life is more important than this."

Godfrey, from Neasdon, was jailed for three years on February 14 after admitting two counts of actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and witness intimidation.

As well as banging Shira’s head on the floor, he strangled her and inflicted blunt force trauma injuries to her head.

After he was arrested he continued to intimidate her and, when released on bail, he assaulted another woman he had started a relationship with.

Shira said she felt “relief” at the sentencing and said the order, issued by Hackney detectives, "makes me feel more safe, and other women will be protected".

"Instead of us women trying to prevent them [from being abusive], they have to go away from us," she said.

"The emphasis is on the perpetrator, not the victim."

Shira added that she hopes the order will make Godfrey “think twice before getting into a relationship".

"It's also good for me and my children, this order, as it will help us know where he is and what he's doing - to protect ourselves."

Detective inspector Jane Topping from Hackney Community Safety Unit said: “This order gives us a new way of protecting victims of domestic abuse and prevent other women from suffering at the hands of people like Godfrey, and help our efforts to tackle domestic violence.

“The victim in Godfrey’s case was subjected to a horrendous ordeal by him following a sustained campaign of domestic violence.

“She has shown incredible bravery in supporting our investigation, and I hope she feels safer now Godfrey is behind bars and will be subject to closer scrutiny.”

The order, issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Police Act 2014, will last for seven years.

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