Warning: This article contains descriptions of domestic abuse
A domestic abuse survivor in the UK believes her six-year-old daughter saved her life, after she told her teachers "my daddy is hurting my mummy".
Mum of three, Jodie Keegans, 36, had suffered three years of domestic abuse from her husband Scott Keegans, Metro reports.
The daughters' admission saw social services step in.
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The pair married in 2009 and Ms Keegan said it was not until the last three years that he became possessive.
"He was a great partner and father in the beginning," she said.
Mr Keegans would beat her daily for reasons such as not making his coffee properly or because she could sleep when he could not.
The abuse often left her with broken bones.
She was not allowed to work, have a mobile phone or see her friends and family.
She even missed her sister's funeral after she died suddenly in 2015 from breast cancer.
On December 23, Mr Keegans beat her for two hours with a rolling pin, which saw 95 percent of her body covered in bruises.
Police arrived at their household because Mr Keegans had missed a social care organised council session.
Mr Keegans fled through the back door and it was then that Ms Keegans told the police she thought she was a victim to domestic abuse.
Ms Keegans showed the police the bruises and was taken to Doncaster Hospital, where she spent five days recovering.
Mr Keegans was arrested and early last month was found guilty by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court of six counts of assault, sexual assault by penetration and rape.
He was jailed for 18 years.
"For him to get such a lengthy sentence was the best possible result," Ms Keegans said.
Ms Keegans has since set up a support group in Doncaster for victims of domestic abuse.
"I want to empower women, and men, to come forward. To anyone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, the help is there and it's amazing, you just need to take that step and reach out."
Newshub.
