I thought I was going to die when my partner threw me across the garden and suffocated me
A MUM has revealed she thought she would die when her ex-partner threw her across the garden and suffocated her. Rebecca Mavin, 27, from Colwyn Bay, Wales, shared photos of her appalling injuries inflicted by ex Craig Pilkington. Pilkington, 34, attacked her on the night of June 10, throwing her to the floor and biting […]
A MUM has revealed she thought she would die when her ex-partner threw her across the garden and suffocated her.
Rebecca Mavin, 27, from Colwyn Bay, Wales, shared photos of her appalling injuries inflicted by ex Craig Pilkington.
Pilkington, 34, attacked her on the night of June 10, throwing her to the floor and biting her face, the Daily Post reports.
But despite her horrific ordeal the thug was spared jail and was given a 20-week sentence, suspended for 18 months.
Pilkington, 34, of Ffordd Y Mynach, appeared before Llandudno Magistrates on October 22 and pleaded guilty to assault by beating.
Mum-of-two Rebecca has blasted his sentence as a “failure of the system”.
‘BEGGED HIM TO STOP’
Recalling the night he attacked her, Rebecca said: “I begged him to stop to which he started biting my face and nose.
“I started screaming for help and at that point, he then tried to make me quiet by covering my mouth and holding my neck so hard the skin in my upper mouth had ripped.
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“I’ve never been so scared in my life and I thought ‘this is it he’s going to kill me’.
“I have children – this vile, unprovoked attack could have taken me away from them.”
A neighbour who heard Rebecca’s “faint” screams let her into their home and called the police after she fled.
Rebecca added: “People need to know, it’s not acceptable for a male to hit a female, and it’s okay for females to speak out about it.
This man threw me across my garden, pinned me down on the floor, got on top of me, bit my nose and face, and then pursued to put his hand over my mouth and neck until I couldn’t breathe
Rebecca Mavin
“He pleaded guilty for the charges against him, and was still only given such a lenient sentence, what’s it going to take?
“I understand, the sentence is something rather than nothing but he should have been locked up and the keys thrown away.
“I feel like myself and many others have been let down by the justice system.
“This man threw me across my garden, pinned me down on the floor, got on top of me, bit my nose and face, and then pursued to put his hand over my mouth and neck until I couldn’t breathe.”
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, where you call 999 and press ‘55’ if you can’t safely speak.
- Always keep some money or a bank card on you, including change in case you need a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to move towards an exit if you are inside the house and get your phone in case you need to call for help.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other potential weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available every day from 10am-6pm or email helpline@womensaid.org.uk
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 – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
She now believes she’s “lucky to be alive” and wants to raise awareness “that these things are not ok.”
Rebecca said: “I can’t take back the past but I can hopefully prevent it from happening again.”
In a Facebook post last month, her mum Christine paid tribute to her “Vibrant. Strong. Beautiful” daughter.
She wrote: “I’m am extremely proud of your resilience despite your mental suffering and facial scars to stand up for what you believe in to help others.”
As well as a suspended jail term, Pilkington was ordered to pay fines totalling £920 and given a restraining order.
