“I made my mind up when he started beating our son.”

Name: Monique
Age: 26

He didn’t want me to leave the house for anything, suspected me of all kinds of things, and when he had beaten me he used to lock me in the house so no-one would see my injuries.
He didn’t drink and he didn’t take drugs. He was just crazy. He threatened to beat me to death if I reported him to police.

It was when he started beating our son that I made my mind up. I was four months pregnant with my second son. I took the boy and managed to get out of the house, and went to the police. They sent me here, to Abrigo Rainha Silvia LÄNK till förändrare.  I got a protection order against him, and he wasn’t allowed to know where I was. I know that he’s been summoned to the police for questioning but hasn’t turned up.
I was very frightened of him at the time, but I’m not now. He’s got no right to the boys and I don’t want to have any contact with him.

My dream is to start studying again, to finish high school so I can get a better job and support my sons.

I lived here at the home for mothers for a year. Now I’ve moved out and live in my own flat. I’ve got a temporary job and the older boy goes to nursery school here at Abrigo Rainha Silvia LÄNK till förändrare. My dream is to start studying again, to finish high school so I can get a better job and support my sons.

I had a good childhood. I’d never experienced violence until I met the children’s father. I think that’s why I was able to pick myself up and leave before it was too late.