Wandsworth woman’s 22-year domestic nightmare revealed as her controlling abuser is given 16-year jail term

A woman who “suffered in silence” as her partner subjected her to a 22-year reign of physical and psychological abuse, has spoken about the reign of terror she endured.

Dean Martin Kelly, 39, of Wandsworth, was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment after previously being found guilty at Kingston Crown Court following a 12-day trial.

He was sentenced on Friday for a range of offences, including grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, criminal damage, threats to kill, assault by penetration, sexual assault and controlling and coercive behaviour.

The victim found the courage to report him in April last year when she feared for her life.

She said: “I have suffered in silence for 22 years, silenced by my own fear and too afraid to speak up thinking there was no way out after years of abuse, but there was.

“The evening I called 999 undoubtedly saved my life. Faced with two kitchen knives and being told I was going to be killed in front of our helpless children after I had been beaten and sexually assaulted that evening. I knew this man was dangerous and deadly serious about ending my life.

“From the vulnerable young age of 16 to 38 I have been a victim of domestic abuse and under the control of Dean’s cohesive, obsessive, possessive and controlling behaviour.

“He was so manipulative and treated me as his possession. It was the only love I ever knew and accepted. I knew it was wrong and that I deserved so much more but I was too scared and felt so ashamed. I now know this was never love.”

The court heard how on April 30, just before 9pm, police received a 999 call from the victim who whispered “Police, police, please, please” before she abandoned the call.

When the police arrived at her home in Wandsworth, Kelly told her he would kill her. He told their three children aged between 10 and 21, to “Say goodbye to your mum, I’m going to kill her”.

The victim explained how the abuse had worsened recently and how she was terrified of going to the police because of the threats he had made to kill her if she spoke with them.

She had extensive bruising covering her entire body. One hundred separate evidential photos were taken to record the abuse.

Kelly raped, sexually abused, beat and ritualistically humiliated her over an extended period of time.

He would routinely spit at her, rub food in her hair which she had cooked for him and also spit in her food and the children’s food. He would beat her with his fists as well as use weapons, such as a belt and wire from a set of headphones.

The victim added: “Dean controlled every aspect of my life, down to what I ate, what I wore, who I spoke to, where I went and my finances. He would always dismiss my feelings, thoughts and opinions and belittle everything I said and did.

“He would often cause conflict between family members and friends and would try to isolate me and the children from our loved ones.

“Dean was supposed to love and protect me and our children but instead he failed us all miserably. He robbed us all of our dignity, safety, freedom and happiness.”