A young woman who was covered head to toe in bruises was so badly beaten by her partner that she wrote a letter saying goodbye to her young son. Jessica Davies, 23, has been left with the physical and mental scars of the abuse from Thomas Parry.
The mum has bravely spoken of the savage beatings her ex-boyfriend dealt out while their two-year-old son slept in the next room. The burly man, weighing 23 stone and much taller than 5ft 3in Jessica, subjected her to over eight years of controlling behaviour, reports Wales Online.
She met her partner when she was 15 and initially believed him to be a gentle giant but the relationship became toxic as Parry became controlling and attacked her so viciously, it left police officers stunned.
Jessica bravely wants to to raise awareness about domestic abuse and to help others. She said: "I felt physically and emotionally powerless and I thought the only way out was death. Either he was going to kill me or I'd take my own life."
She recounted the terrifying details of the thug stamping on, punching, choking and humiliating her as he warned her things "could get worse". She added: "His words were 'I can get way way way worse'. I knew he meant it too."
Horrifying images show the extent of her bruising and injuries. Parry was said to have smashed her face with his size 11 shoes as their two-year-old child, who was sick with chickenpox, was resting in a nearby bedroom. She was so terrified of the abuser that she set up a fake email account and prepared a letter to write to her son after the assault.
She added: “I really believed he was going to kill me. He was a hulk of a man. He was absolutely savage. He tried to dehumanise me in every way he could. He told me nobody could stop him. He spat on me and tipped a tin of talcum powder all over me. I was in so much pain for his beating and I begged him to let me sleep in our bed but he wouldn't allow and made me sleep on the floor like an animal."
She recalls an attack when Parry began quizzing her on the sex life of her previous partner and she knew he would hurt her. "He was so angry and just began pacing the room. I could tell he was going to explode and he did. He grabbed my hair and began smashing my head on the sofa," Jessica said.
“He spat and stamped on me with his trainers and I was semi-conscious at one point. The pain was so horrific my body went numb. I was in so much pain I couldn't feel it anymore.
"My body was black and blue all over from the bruises. He hit me so hard in the face there was blood everywhere from my nose and it went all over the walls as he forced me into the shower to wash the blood away. When I saw myself in the mirror I barely recognised myself. I could barely walk and I hurt so badly. I was in absolute agony.”
Parry also threatened her that he would take her son away if she spoke out about the horror, and even goaded his partner to kill herself. Jessica said: "I did wonder if the only way to get away from his clutches was to kill myself, if he didn't kill me first, that is."
She continued: “I remember crawling to the bedroom to give him [son] some Calpol. I was in so much pain but I tried to stay strong for him. I also wrote letters to my little boy and told him how much I loved him - it was something I felt I had to do in case Thomas did kill me. Then I deleted it all because I knew as soon as Thomas came back he'd check my phone - all my messages and photographs.”
The brave woman managed to leave the house and made a run for it when Parry was not looking and sent the horrifying pictures to her family who got the police involved. She said: "As I told the police what I’d been through I could see one of the officers tear up - that’s how bad my injuries were.”
Parry was sentenced to four years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court in March this year with the court hearing he had 14 previous convictions for offences such as common assault. He will serve half the sentence on licence.
Judge David Wynn Morgan said during sentencing: "You are described as being warm and kind, an honourable individual, a good human being, patient, thoughtful, respectful, kind and polite, caring and conscientious.
"The people who write those references are plainly speaking about somebody other than the person standing in the dock. The fact is you are a bully. Men who hit women are not just bullies, they are cowards and you are a coward."
Jessica hopes others in her position can spot the warning signs she noticed in the early days of her relationship with Parry.
She added: “We’d only been going out for a month when he told me I couldn’t wear make-up to school and started constantly checking my phone to see who I was talking to. He alienated me from my friends and family and hated me being with anyone but him.
"He began controlling my every move - he controlled what clothes I wore - no cleavage in photographs and he didn't like me wearing dresses or skirts. I mistook his control and jealousy for love - I was so young and very naïve. I didn't understand what was happening was domestic abuse.
“I want other women who read my story to be able to spot the warning signs. I'm just so glad I got away from him. I know I am lucky to be alive.”
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