A domestic abuse victim has spoken of her relief and satisfaction that the man who tormented her for so long has been brought to justice.

She has spoken out in the wake of the conviction of Michael Francis on seven counts of assaults and damaging property during the abusive relationship.

The 31-year-old defendant, of Escomb Villas, Escomb, near Bishop Auckland, denied three charges of assaulting a woman 13 or over, two of assault causing actual bodily harm and two of criminal damage.

Following a case which has been subject to several delays, he was convicted on all counts after unanimous jury verdicts delivered at the end of a two-week long trial at Newcastle Crown Court, last Friday (August 5).

Judge Timothy Gittins adjourned the case and remanded Francis to remain in custody, pending sentence on September 12.

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The victim said when she first met him, in 2015, things seemed to be going well.

However, Francis soon turned nasty and subjected her to a barrage of abuse both mentally, physically and sexually.

He subjected her to attacks over several months with some incidents so horrific that they disturbed detectives investigating the case.

One involved him dragging her from a car and pushing her face into muddy puddles repeatedly, holding it under for seconds at a time, repeatedly kicking and punching her as he did so.

He told her that he intended to infect her lip which he had split in an earlier assault so nobody else would look at her.

“He won me over with his charm and seemed to be everything I could ask for.

“Bur, within days, it just became a living nightmare, and I did not think I would get out alive.

 “I thought a number of times that I was going to be dead.”

She said that at that time she just put up with the assaults and abuse.

“At one point I thought I was never going to escape and I just thought: ‘Kill me and at least it will all be over,’ but when I didn’t die, it was like I wasn’t meant to and I knew I had to get out.”

She did manage to escape and report the abuse but felt pressured to retract her statement.

But after Francis was jailed for seven years for abusing another victim, she reached out to resurrect her case.

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She was supported by Safeguarding Detective Constable Helen Towns and Witness Care Officer Mel Elliott in each step of the way to finding justice.

Despite the abuse leaving her with complex PTSD, she bravely resurrected her case and Francis was ultimately charged with the offences in 2019.

Following the delays, some brought about because of the Covid pandemic, the case finally went to trial on July 25.

The jury returned its guilty verdicts, following two-and-a-half hours’ deliberation on the tenth day of the hearing, and Francis will now learn his fate at next month’s sentencing hearing.

Meanwhile, the victim has started to receive treatment for her PTSD and, while she will never be able to erase the abuse, she hopes that by sharing her story she can help other victims in similar situations.

“As horrible as it was to go through, I’m glad I’m now able to do something to stop him doing it to someone else.

“He’s a monster and my only goal out of this is to stop other women ever being in his hands.

"He’s so dangerous and does not stop.”

Det Con Towns, who led the investigation, said: “She suffered horrendously at the hands of Francis so it showed true grit and determination to resurrect her case especially when she was experiencing such fear and trauma.

“I have so much admiration for her tenacity and find her hope that she would be able to prevent what happened to her from happening to someone else, incredibly inspiring.

“She has been unwavering in her pursuit of the justice she now has and I’m so glad she is now receiving the support and treatment to help her rebuild her life and concentrate on her future.”

Domestic abuse victims can contact the refuge group Harbour on its 24-hour hotline, (03000) 202525, but for those in imminent danger, a 999 call should be made.

Further information advice victims can contact www.durham.police.uk/Advice-Centre/Personal-safety/Domestic-abuse.aspx.

Read next:

                * Four County Durham criminals hauled before Durham Crown Court last week

                * Neighbours suspected domestic violence incidents at Durham flat

                * Durham Police four men following reports of domestic abuse

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