I thought my thug boyfriend was going to kill me… but then I spotted something that saved my life | The Sun

A WOMAN had a lucky escape when she thought her thug boyfriend was going to kill her but spotted something that saved her life.

Jolene Norman, 30, was attacked by her violent partner Dale Gresty, 31, shortly after he was released from prison for a previous assault on her.

The pair met on social media and began a relationship in 2019 but, one evening, Gresty flew into a jealous rage while drunk at their home in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

The brute cut Jolene with scissors, beat her and threatened to pour nail polish remover in her wounds.

Gresty was arrested and, in May 2020, jailed for assault, unlawful wounding and actual bodily harm (ABH).

It was only after his conviction that Jolene realised she was pregnant with his child.

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However, after Gresty's release, he tracked down his ex and attacked her again after demanding to see their daughter.

Thankfully, the mum-of-two managed to fight back with "superhuman strength" after she saw a small opportunity.

She told the Manchester Evening News: "He barged in and I knew immediately he was in a rage. He was furious he had ended up in prison because of what he did to me, he saw it all as my fault.

"Our daughter was asleep upstairs and Dale was grabbing my hair, pulling me back into the room every time I tried to run away from him.

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"Dale was punching and kicking me, and I thought he was going to kill me. When he stood up, there was a big window behind him and quickly I undid the latch.

"It was only when I somehow found a superhuman strength to push him out of the window that I was saved. It was a ground floor window… I just shoved him and out he went."

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 – [email protected].

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.

Jolene then locked the window and called the police, who arrested her attacker.

In December last year, Gresty was convicted of ABH again, as well as breaching a restraining order and jailed for 32 months.

Brave Jolene is now urging other victims of domestic violence to speak out and report the abuse to the police.

She added: "I struggled to put the attack behind me but knowing he is in prison gives me so much comfort.

"I want other women to know that you must walk away – before it is too late.

"I've learned to spot the signs of an abuser and I will never put myself in that position again. I have a job, I have my children, and I have so much to look forward to."

She also credited a Facebook community called Love Doesn't Hurt for supporting her through the terrifying ordeal.

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