Stalking victim speaks out to help others

Laura Muller "lost friends and confidence" after her partner starting abusing her

A woman who became fearful to leave her home after her abusive ex-partner began stalking her has spoken out about her ordeal to help others.

Laura Muller, from Cheltenham, said she now wants to focus on healing following her eight-year relationship with Ben Townsend, 37.

On Friday, Townsend was given a five-year restraining order and a three-year community order at Gloucester Crown Court.

"I can only hope the strict conditions he's been given will force him to confront his behaviour and prevent him from hurting anyone else," she told the BBC.

Townsend pleaded guilty to stalking, coercive and controlling behaviour, and causing actual bodily harm.

He now has to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 120 days of alcohol abstinence monitoring.

Townsend, of Norwich Drive, Cheltenham, was also banned from entering the Montpellier area of the town and ordered to pay Ms Muller £6,000 in compensation.

Ms Muller "got together and moved in quite quickly" with Townsend, and that is when his behaviour began to change.

'It almost became normal'

"It had gone from a great relationship in the beginning, very loving, to changes in his behaviour, especially after having a drink," Ms Muller explained.

"It almost became normal."

Ms Muller said her friends "started to notice bruises", and she would make excuses, claiming "it was an accident".

As time passed, Townsend's physical abuse and manipulation of Ms Muller became "more intense, more regular", and she felt "more and more" isolated.

"I started to get quiet, I wouldn't go out as much," she said.

Ms Muller added that she lost friends, and felt like she was "constantly walking on eggshells" to make sure she "wasn't setting [Townsend] off".

Ms Muller eventually left Townsend after they adopted a dog together, which became "anxious" and "upset" around him.

Ms Muller and Townsend adopted a dog earlier this year, which was a turning point.

Their dog became "anxious" around Townsend after picking up Ms Muller's feelings, which is when she asked Townsend to move out in July.

This is when the stalking began.

"He was sometimes just sitting on street corners, he knew the times I was taking the dog out for a walk," Ms Muller said.

"I just felt like I was constantly watched, I just started feeling really anxious about leaving the house.

"I was constantly looking over my shoulder."

'Incredibly painful'

Given "the devastating impact" Townsend had on Ms Muller's life, she is disappointed he did not receive an immediate custodial sentence, but respects the court's decision.

"This journey has been incredibly painful, and while the sentencing doesn’t undo what I’ve been through, I’m focused on my healing and raising awareness about domestic abuse," she said.

"It’s so important that we keep talking about this issue, supporting survivors, and breaking the silence.

"No one should ever go through what I did."