Woman, 30, was severely beaten by her former partner

Woman, 30, who was severely beaten by her former partner, says these lethal eight steps of abuse can lead to murder

Abbie Brydon beaten within an inch of her life by former partner Scott Hughes
She believes women should be aware of a study by Dr Jane Monckton Smith
The 30-year-old said it could help them identify signs they are at risk of violence

By Joe Middleton For Mailonline

Published: 12:20 BST, 29 August 2019 | Updated: 12:20 BST, 29 August 2019

A 30-year-old woman who was attacked by her former partner believes a study which identifies a deadly-eight stage pattern leading from domestic abuse to murder could save lives.

Domestic abuse survivor Abbie Brydon, was beaten within an inch of her life by her former partner, Scott Hughes, at their home in Wythenshawe in March, 2018.

She believes that all women should be aware of a study, conducted by Criminology expert Dr Jane Monckton Smith, who found the time line in 372 killings across the UK.

The 30-year-old said it could help them identify signs that they are at risk of severe violence or death.

Domestic abuse survivor Abbie Brydon, was beaten within an inch of her life by her former partner, Scott Hughes (left), at their home in Wythenshawe in March, 2018

Domestic abuse survivor Abbie Brydon (left), was beaten within an inch of her life (right) by her former partner, Scott Hughes, at their home in Wythenshawe in March, 2018

Dr Monckton Smith, a lecturer at The University of Gloucestershire, believes controlling behaviour could be a warning sign of someone’s potential to kill their partner.

The research indicated women represent more than 80% of victims killed by their partners and in the majority of these cases, the partner was male, the BBC reports.

The study examined cases on the website Counting Dead Women where the woman was known to have had a relationship with the killer.

Other cases were included such as those of male victims killed by their male partners.

Miss Brydon was hospitalised with two ‘blow out’ fractured eye sockets, nasal fractures and a face so badly bruised her own family didn’t recognise her – after she was attacked by her former partner.

Hughes (pictured) is now serving a 14-year prison sentence after being convicted of GBH with intent

She believes if her neighbours hadn’t heard her screams for help, she would have been killed by Hughes, who is now serving a 14-year prison sentence after being convicted of GBH with intent.

The eight steps discovered by Dr Monkton Smith in almost every killing

1. The perpetrator had a history of stalking or abuse prior to the relationship

2. A quick acceleration of the romance into a serious relationship

3. Coercive control comes into the relationship

4. The perpetrator’s control is threatened by some form of trigger – for example, the relationship ends or they run into financial difficulty

5. The coercive behaviour and control tactics is then escalated through tactics such as stalking or threatening suicide

6. A change of tactics is then adopted, with the perpetrator choosing to move on through revenge or homicide

7. Weapons are considered and opportunities to get the victim alone feature as part of the perpetrator’s planning

8. The homicide is carried out, and the perpetrator considers hurting others such as the victim’s children

‘I think you never assume it is going to happen to you but the similarities in the study and how the stages progress are absolutely spot on,’ Abbie said.

‘Going through it stage by stage I think would make a lot more people take it seriously.

If it was more widely known to women I think it could save lives.

‘I never in a million years thought it was going to get that far but I

think if people could see it in black and white it might make you realise;

I need to get out, I’m in trouble.

‘I think it is really important every women knows about it.’

Dr Monckton Smith told the BBC: ‘We’ve been relying on the ‘crime of passion, spontaneous red-mist’ explanation [of killing] forever – and it’s just not true.

‘If you start looking at all these cases, there’s planning, determination, there’s always coercive control.’

The model has been taught to lawyers, psychologists, police forces and probation officers across the country.

Dr Monckton Smith hopes the model can be rolled out more widely now it has been published in the Violence Against Women Journal.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk