Louise Goodwin, of Leicester, was left traumatised after her boxer ex punched her repeatedly in the face in a sickening attack
A woman has revealed how her former partner used her like ‘a punchbag’ and almost blinded her after brutally beating her up.
Louise Goodwin, of Leicester, was left traumatised after her boxer ex boyfriend punched her repeatedly in the face in a sickening attack.
The 50-year-old photographer was so viciously attacked that she was left with a detached retina to her left eye and a broken left hand.
Ms Goodwin reported him to the police and in March 2016, Lee Heggs, 48, was convicted of assaulting her and jailed for 30 months.
Ms Goodwin said: ‘I endured an abusive relationship, but I’ll never stand for it again.
‘I have been left cross-eyed and I suffer from PTSD after the abuse.
‘Lee was a boxer, so he knew the damage he could do when he hit me.
‘I still suffer flashbacks from the attack, I thought I would be blinded for life.’
The 50-year-old photographer was so viciously attacked that she was left with a detached retina to her left eye and a broken left hand. Pictured: Ms Goodwin after the horrific assault
Ms Goodwin reported boyfriend Lee Heggs to the police and in March 2016, the 48-year-old was convicted of assaulting Ms Goodwin and jailed for 30 months
Ms Goodwin and Heggs became a couple in May 2013, after meeting on a dating site.
Ms Goodwin said: ‘I had been single for five years, so my friends decided to set me up on a dating site.
‘They wanted me to meet someone and get back on the scene.
‘I was nervous when I started chatting to Lee online.
‘We went on our first date six weeks later and my nerves melted away.
‘I loved his sexy, crooked smile and his jokes.
‘When he told me he was a boxer, I found him even more sexy. I soon fell in love with him.’
Three months later in August 2013, Ms Goodwin underwent a knee operation. The pair moved in together that month so Heggs could look after Louise while she recovered.
But by January 2014, when Ms Goodwin went back to work, Heggs became controlling.
Ms Goodwin said: ‘Lee was a boxer, so he knew the damage he could do when he hit me’
Ms Goodwin and Heggs became a couple in May 2013, after meeting on a dating site and went on their first date six weeks later. Pictured: Ms Goodwin’s injuries
Ms Goodwin said of the attack: ‘He started stomping on my head. After that, he stomped on my hips and knees. I was in agony’
Ms Goodwin said: ‘Whenever I went to the hairdressers or to the shops, he would follow me.
‘He started checking my laptop and phone to see who I was talking to, and I was never allowed to chat to my friends.’
Five months later in June 2014, Ms Goodwin came home from work to find Heggs drunk.
She said: ‘He had been drinking all day, on my return from work I took it off him and put it outside.
‘He grabbed me and threw me across the kitchen. My head hit the fridge and I fell to the floor, dazed.
‘I struggled to my feet, and ran to the dining room.
‘I tried to call 999 on the home phone but Lee snatched it out of my hands and smashed it.
‘He then started stomping on my head. After that, he stomped on my hips and knees. I was in agony.
‘Lee then punched me so hard in my face I heard a sickening crunch.
‘Suddenly I realised that I couldn’t see out of my left eye. I thought I was blind.
‘I remembered that my mobile was in my pocket, so I called an ambulance.’
By January 2014, Ms Goodwin said Heggs (pictured) became controlling. She said: ‘Whenever I went to the hairdressers or to the shops, he would follow me. He started checking my laptop and phone to see who I was talking to, and I was never allowed to chat to my friends’
Heggs was arrested but let out on bail. He called Ms Goodwin every day begging her for forgiveness. She said: ‘I ignored him, what he did was unforgivable’. Pictured: Texts Heggs sent
In March 2016, Heggs pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Leicester Crown Court
Around 40 minutes later, police arrived to arrest Heggs, while paramedics rushed Ms Goodwin to Leicester Royal Infirmary.
She said: ‘I was diagnosed with trauma glaucoma, a detached retina and a bruised and broken hand.
‘The doctor told me that I could lose my left eye, I was devastated.
‘Lee had once told me I had beautiful eyes, and now he had nearly blinded me.’
Over the next four months, doctors gave Ms Goodwin special eye drops which helped to repair her vision.By September 2014, most of her sight had returned.
Her devastating injuries meant she’s been forced to give up her photography business.
Ms Goodwin said: ‘I’ve been left with blurry vision in one eye and cross-eyed.
‘I’m unable to focus through cameras.’
In the meantime, Heggs was charged with assault but was given bail.
He called Ms Goodwin every day begging her for forgiveness.
Ms Goodwin said: ‘I ignored him, what he did was unforgivable.’
Ms Goodwin said: ‘I am now trying to rebuild my life, but it is extremely hard when I suffer from PTSD’
Heggs (pictured) was jailed for 30 months and ordered to pay a £120 surcharge. He was also given a four-year restraining order against Ms Goodwin
In March 2016, Heggs pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Leicester Crown Court.
He was jailed for 30 months and ordered to pay a £120 surcharge.
He was also given a four-year restraining order against Ms Goodwin.
She said: ‘I was sickened by his sentence, especially as he was released early in January.
‘I still have nightmares from that night. I’m lucky to be alive.
‘I am now trying to rebuild my life, but it is extremely hard when I suffer from PTSD.
‘I want others to know that it is possible to escape from an abusive relationship.
‘Now Lee’s free to walk the streets, he could be hurting anybody.’