May 16, 2025

In Control

So, it probably won’t surprise most of you that know me, that I have been ill again! I’m not going to bore you all with the details. I bore myself enough! But suffice to say, I have been signed off work for a couple of weeks and I was a bit worried that I would not have the distraction I knew I would need to get me through until I can return to work. So my good friend, colleague and lawyer extraordinaire (you know who you are!), sent me this book. She said it would be right up my street and of course Jane Monkton Smith is someone who is revered in the domestic abuse sector. So, this afternoon, I settled down in my garden and started to read.

I have only read a few chapters but already I am sucked in! I generally find these sort of books quite heavy to read and perhaps too academic, if that makes sense. However, this book is very ‘easy’ to read and based on interviews Jane has done with victims and and perpetrators of domestic abuse and focuses on an eight stage journey, which Jane has called The Homicide Timeline.

You can get this book on Amazon, so if you are interested, I recommend you give it a go.

I also wanted to highlight this news story, which I saw a couple of days ago.

https://metro.co.uk/2025/05/14/james-argent-given-suspended-jail-sentence-pushing-girlfriend-steps-spain-23082427/

All I can really say is GO SPAIN!!!!

What a thoroughly efficient and speedy response the Spanish police and courts gave this case, showing that Spain is not going to tolerate violence against women and girls and clearly stamps it out immediately. What a powerful deterrent. Our justice system could learn a lot from the Spanish authorities!!

That is all for now. Take care everyone, until next time…..

I first met Sharon back in 2000 when I went into a refuge she worked in after fleeing a violent relationship. I had two babies and virtually just a bag of clothes and a few toys with us. She helped me with appointments with the police, solicitors and..

A survivor of domestic abuse.

I was fortunate enough to meet and work with Sharon when she was the Advocacy Manager at Woman’s Trust and I was working for Westminster City Council. During this time Sharon developed and managed the Independent Domestic Violence Advocacy Service..

Ainslie O’Connor – Principal Advisor for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet – Adelaide, Australia.

Thank you so much for all the support you have given me. You really have been amazing, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have been able to cope with Child Protection without you. The amount of strength you have given me is totally priceless, even with..

A survivor of domestic abuse.

I knew Sharon as a work colleague over ten years ago. At the time, she was supporting vulnerable people, some of them were homeless due to domestic abuse and substance misuse. For me, assisting such people was what anyone in her role would be expect..

Ted Chanza, Head of Market Operations, Airtel Malawi Ltd, Lilongwe, Malawi, Africa.

I have known Sharon for 6 years and have had the pleasure of working alongside her when I chaired the Westminster MARAC. Sharon is a committed, empathetic supporter of women who are or have experienced domestic abuse. She regularly goes the extra m..

Former Chair of The Westminster MARAC.

I was fortunate to have had Sharon as my support worker after 17 years of domestic violence and 4 children that had witnessed and gone through it with me. I was finally strong enough to stand up and protect myself and my children. Without Sharon’s ..

A survivor of domestic violence.

Without the support and constant reassurance of Sharon, I know for a fact that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am forever grateful to her. She is extremely dedicated and knowledgeable, having her on my side when dealing with someone as persistent..

Anonymous survivor of Domestic Abuse.

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