WATCH: Inverness domestic abuse survivor speaks out
Lisa Horne shows up to our Inverness Courier offices with her mum alongside her and she is glowing.
A colourful scarf wrapped around her neck, and a smile on her face; it’s like I’m meeting a different person than the one I had met 12 months earlier.
Lisa is a survivor of domestic abuse. When she took her attacker to court he was given community service; but he had received eight months in prison for battering a dog.
According to Scottish Women’s Aid, domestic abuse is a pattern of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and/or violent behaviour, including sexual violence, by a partner or ex-partner.
Domestic abuse is overwhelmingly experienced by women and perpetrated by men. It doesn’t matter how old someone is, what race or ethnicity they are, what class they are, whether or not they are disabled, or whether they have children – anyone can be a victim of abuse.
It takes, on average, seven attempts before a woman is able to leave for good. Leaving an abusive partner is a process, not a single act.
Lisa shares her story of abuse and what her life is like now. Her message: speak to someone. Tell them what is happening.
If you have been impacted by Lisa’s story, please contact Inverness Women's Aid on 01463 220719.
