Jemma Rixon hit the headlines in 2014 when she broke her back after jumping out of a window to escape sex attacker Craig Cantwell. After appearing on ITV’s This Morning and featuring in UK magazines and newspapers such as Real People, the Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Star, Jemma has bravely shared her story with Australia’s That’s Life to help raise awareness for other victims of sexual attacks.
Mercedes was looking forward to spending Valentine’s Day with her new boyfriend, Simon. In fact, she was intending to rustle up her speciality dish of pork and cabbage spring rolls. But as she drizzled oil into the pan, it set alight. As the flames soared, Mercedes ran towards the kitchen door – tripping her cat, Turbo, and flinging the scorching oil all over herself. After being rushed to hospital in an ambulance, Mercedes underwent several painful skin grafts and is now scarred for life. Hoping to use her story to inspire other women, Mercedes says that she and Simon are still very much in love but will definitely be getting a takeaway this year.
Her story was published in Pick Me Up.
Some of Olwen Owen’s first memories are of her depraved cousin, Christopher De Maria, sexually abusing her. The paedophile was trusted to babysit Olwen, but instead abused her secretly throughout her childhood. After concealing her torment for almost 20 years, Olwen was horrified to discover that Christopher had children of his own and set about bringing him to justice. Cleverly capturing his confession in a Facebook message, she reported him to the police and he was jailed for seven-and-a-half years last July.
Read her amazing story in today’s Sun here.
Donna was devastated when her stepfather died, but she was dealt a double-blow when her beloved husband was stabbed to death while they attended the funeral. Describing Peter as her ‘soul mate’, Donna told Woman’s Own how she is coping after losing the most important person in her life and why she won’t let his evil killer, Johnny Nicholles, spoil her cherished memories of Peter.
Brave Olwen, 30, was abused by her sick cousin Christopher, 37, who had been trusted to babysit her as a child. After keeping his dark secret for almost 20 years, she was shocked into going to the police after discovering he had a family of his own. Unable to bear the idea of him abusing anyone else, she reported his sick crimes – cleverly getting him to admit his guilt in a Facebook message. With the help of the message, Christopher was convicted of abusing Olwen and was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in July last year.
Olwen’s inspiring story is in this week’s Pick Me Up.
Little Declan Bitmead-Ellis was left fighting for his life after a one-in-a-million allergic reaction to tonsillitis medication led him to develop the deadly condition, TEN (toxic epidermal necrolysis). Mum Ashleigh watched in horror as his skin burned from the inside and his eyes fused shut. Now recovered, the brave six-year-old is back at school but has to wear special sunglasses to protect his eyes from the sun.
Proud Ashleigh shared Declan’s story in Pick Me Up.
As soon as Niamh Wynne learned about calories in her biology lesson at school, she began limiting her intake. Over two years, the now 18-year-old lost a dangerous 7st 6lb and developed anorexia. Things got so bad that mum Ann planned her funeral. Now fully recovered, Niamh is sharing her story to raise awareness for girls suffering from eating disorders.
As seen in the Sun.
I recently had the privilege of working with Susan Copestick, who bravely saved the life of her own rapist so he would face justice for the attack.
Peter Drummond launched his degrading sexual assault in revenge for Susan ending their 10-year relationship. Thanks to Susan’s courage, Peter was jailed for 10 years in April.
Determined to raise awareness for other victims, she shared her story with Chat magazine and national newspapers, including the Mirror.
This morning, she appeared on BBC Two’s Victoria Derbyshire to encourage other victims to seek justice.
You can watch the full interview here.
"If you've been raped you must report it" says Susan, who was raped by her ex-partner http://t.co/amEq9Phd9Q http://t.co/ntFSACHSyd
— Victoria Derbyshire (@VictoriaLIVE) September 29, 2015
Alisha was shot five times and paralysed by her ex-hubby, DJ, after police failed to take her stalking complaints seriously. Now she’s campaigning for a change in US law.
Read her inspiring story in this week’s Woman’s Own.
When Alisha left her layabout hubby DJ, she thought she’d seen the last of him. But after stalking her for months, he showed up at her workplace and shot her five times before turning the gun on himself.
Alisha shares her story in That’s Life to raise awareness of cyber-stalking. Now she’s campaigning for new laws in the USA to stop it from happening again.
If you have been the victim of stalking, please get in touch on 0121 5511 004 or charlotte@hotspotmedia.co.uk
Charlotte Brazier