A mother, who had been trapped in an abusive relationship with her husband for several years, has shared the harrowing moment when she finally found a way to escape. The turning point came when she uttered five secret words to her taxi driver.
Mom Trapped In An Abusive Marriage Whispered Five Secret Words To Her Taxi Driver, That Saved Her Life
By
Zainab Pervez in
Crime
On 20th May 2023
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Mom-of-two Rosie Frankish, 26, from Warrington, bravely shares her harrowing experience of escaping an abusive marriage. After enduring years of torment at the hands of her ex-partner Daniel Little, Rosie found herself trapped in a nightmare
She was left fearing for her life after her abusive ex-partner Daniel Little, 33, forced his way into her home and launched the vile six-hour attack.
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It all started during the pregnancy when Little's behavior changed. Rosie was hopeful she could make their relationship work, for the sake of their two children but Little became increasingly controlling and violent.
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She said: “I was three months pregnant when he grabbed my hair in an argument. When we went out, I had to keep my eyes down, at the pram, so I wouldn’t look at other men. When I was home, I had to hand him my phone and keys. He alienated me from all my friends and family."
In 2020, the couple had already split up. Two years later, she heard from Little again as he pleaded to see the children.
She said: “I told him he could still see the children, but someone else would be present to supervise, and not me.”
Little reacted angrily and spiraled over a period of days, eventually ending up getting arrested for attacking a stranger.
After his release from custody in December of last year, he went directly to Rosie's residence where she was living with their children.
She said: “I was awakened around 11.30 pm by a loud banging. I went down to open the back door and he barged in from the garden.”
“He was telling me it was all my fault, that I taken away his family, and I would have to pay for it. I knew the attack was coming. His eyes were completely dead. I had no way of getting through to him.”
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Little pinned her against the fridge freezer by her throat before throwing her against the kitchen units.
The attack continued upstairs, and into the bedroom, where he punched, kicked and slapped her repeatedly.
Rosie said: “He kept telling me I needed to learn my lesson. Every now and again he stopped hitting me and made me hug him, and he’d say ‘I pinkie promise I won’t hit you again’ - then he’d start hitting me, like it was all part of some sick game. It was torture.”
“He ran himself a bath but made me sit on the toilet so he could keep an eye on me.”
"I thought about making a run for it, but I was worried he’d catch me.”
"He picked up a full bottle of hair conditioner and tipped it all over my head, into my eyes, and then threw the bottle at me and laughed.”
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"The dog came upstairs, he was very frightened, he hadn’t been out for a poo because I wasn’t allowed to take him, and he pooed on the tiles. Daniel smeared the faeces right into my face, grinding it into my cheeks and my hair with a towel.”
"I was so upset and frightened that I wet myself and he wouldn’t let me get changed. I thought he was going to kill me.”
After several hours, Daniel announced that he needed to return to his home to retrieve some clothes. Rosie saw this as her chance to escape the dangerous situation.
She said: “I called him a taxi and I thought I might be able to persuade him to leave. But he booted me hard and forced me into the taxi with him.”
"All through the journey, I was wondering about throwing myself out onto the road. I wanted to tell the taxi driver but wasn’t sure if he’d help me.”
“The taxi ride lasted only around 10 minutes, but it felt like forever. My mind was racing with possibilities, I thought about throwing myself out onto the road, or screaming out of the windows for help."
When Daniel got out, I remained in the taxi and without moving my face at all, I said to the driver: 'Just drive. Just go. Now.' The cab driver said 'Where do you want me to go?' and I saw Daniel’s hand reach for the door handle. It was like it happened in slow motion.
“I yelled, and the driver just put his foot down and we were off. I couldn’t believe it was over. He took me to the police station, and I got help.”
Rosie was taken to the hospital with severe cuts and bruises, including a black eye, reduced hearing in her left ear, a 10cm bruise over her shoulder to the elbow, a 5cm bruise over her chest, and swelling to her head and scalp.
Officers arrested Little shortly after. Little was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison, after he pleaded guilty to assault, causing actual bodily harm, and false imprisonment in Liverpool Crown Court, according to the Liverpool Echo.
In her impact statement, Rosie told the court: “Psychologically this has affected me. I cannot sleep properly. I feel like I cannot talk to anyone but my family. I feel vulnerable as a result. When I close my eyes, I can see his face from that night. I used to love being on my own but now I cannot do that.”
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In mitigation, the court heard how Little is "deeply ashamed" of his behavior. His barrister said: “He accepts that he needs to be in prison. He knows he must be punished.”
Little has a lengthy record of 17 previous convictions for 34 offences, including for violence. He was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison, of which he will serve half before being released on licence.
Rosie said: “I think his sentence should have been much longer. He could have killed me that night and perhaps he would have, if it wasn’t for the taxi ride. I feel deeply traumatised by what he did.”
“It was Daniel’s aim to ruin me but that won’t happen. I won’t let him win. I’m building a new life for me and my children, and our love is far stronger than his hatred.”