My husband left blood pouring down my face after knocking me out with headbutt – his abuse tortures me to this day
A BRAVE woman has told of how her husband left her with blood pouring down her face after knocking her out with a headbutt.
Lauren Kilgariff, 29, woke up in hospital after her husband violently attacked her during a row at their home.
The heinous assault came just four months after the couple had married in Cyprus, leaving Lauren with permanent scarring.
Shaun Kilgariff, 31, was last week spared jail as he was sentenced to 24 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
The court heard how self-professed “monster” Kilgariff had launched into a violent attack during an alcohol-fuelled argument at their home in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, in September last year.
Lauren revealed how her partner had initially “treated her like a princess”, but also detailed how there was always “a catch”.
She told StokeonTrentLive: “He’s a narcissist, he’s a bully and he’ll blame it on you.”
The pair met online in 2017 after having gone to school together and had multiple mutual friends.
But soon after they met up, she realised he was abusive.
She said: “In front of people, he was this fantastic person, everything was great, he loved us. But behind closed doors, he was different.
“He didn’t like my family coming over, he always just wanted it to be us. He was a bully, he is a bully.
“He got worse, especially with the drinking. When he drank it was worse.
“He got drunk every weekend. We dreaded the weekends because we knew what was coming.”
She had hoped matters would change following their marriage in Cyprus, but Lauren said there was no honeymoon phase for the couple.
During the row on September 17, Lauren had asked Kilgariff to leave her alone and went into a bedroom.
But five minutes later he followed her upstairs.
She again told him she did not want to talk, so he initially left the room.
But Kilgariff then returned to the bedroom before striking Lauren in the head.
She lost consciousness and woke up inside Haywood Hospital, where she was told she would need further treatment at Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Lauren had suffered a deep cut to her eye, an injury she has been told may leave a scar.
In a poignant impact statement to the court, she revealed how she has tried to take her life on two occasions since the horror attack.
Following his sentencing, Lauren added: “I’m still hurting. I still love him, because you can’t stop love. I’ve got that trauma bond with him.
“At first I wanted him back, I wanted my husband back, but over time I thought to myself ‘No, I can’t keep torturing myself like this anymore’.
“I always used to say to him that he needs to stop before it’s too late, and obviously now it is too late.
“He could have killed me. I want people to see what he’s done.”
Kilgariff admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He must also complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a Building Better Relationships scheme and pay £1,000 compensation, £185 costs and £154 surcharge.
Kilgariff has also been made subject to a restraining order not to contact Lauren for 18 months.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.