A mum who was locked in the boot of a car and beaten by her boyfriend has told of her terror after he was released from jail and "abducted" her again.
Brave Giselle Shuken, 36, from California in the US, was forced into the boot of the car at gunpoint by jealous David Crawford in April 2020.
The evil ex left her in the boot for two hours in 37 degree heat after suspecting her of cheating. After finally releasing her from the boot, Crawford took her into her house and attacked her.
Recalling the terrifying ordeal, Giselle explained David misread some messages on her phone and thought she was seeing someone else behind his back.
The mum-of-two said: "We were out throwing away some trash in a dumpster behind a building and he said 'get in the trunk of the car or I'm going to kill you' and told me he had a gun.
"So I got in the trunk of the car and he had my cell phone and my apple watch so I couldn't communicate with anyone.
For more of the news you care about straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our daily newsletters here
"We get back to his house and he tells me I need to stay there and he's going to watch me on the security cameras to make sure that I don't get out.
"So I stayed in the back of the car because I was scared to death that he would come after and I wouldn't have time to run to safety."
She added she nearly died in the boot of the car because of the extreme heat and little air.
When sick Crawford took her out of the car and into her house, he launched a vicious attack on Giselle.
"He stabbed me in the forehead with a pen, burnt my face with cigarettes, bit my ear and choked me," she said.
"He held me up against the wall by my neck and he's a lot bigger and taller than me so my feet were off the ground and then punched my jaw, like an uppercut, which caused my jaw to break.
"Then he filled up the bathtub and proceeded to hold my head under the water on and off for 15 minutes."
After the attack, Giselle says her ex burnt some of the clothes from her wardrobe and threw away a photo album containing photos of her young daughters - because their father was also in the snaps.
Giselle said: "I just kept thinking I've got to get out of here, I've got to survive this, I've got two babies, two little girls - they were five and seven at the time.
"They have their dad but I'm their main support and I've got to make it out of here for them. They can't grow up knowing their mom didn't make it.
"I thought I just need to stay calm, don't aggravate him more and just get through this day."
The next morning, when Crawford finally allowed Giselle to seek medical attention, she had a broken jaw and several other injuries.
But while she visited the GP, her abusive ex made her stay on the phone the entire time to ensure she didn't report him.
She was forced to lie and say that the pair had been jumping on a trampoline when they fell and Crawford's elbow accidentally hit her jaw, breaking it.
However, she managed to write a note to her doctor explaining her ex had beaten her and that she desperately needed help - at which point the doctor called the police.
The next day, Crawford was arrested at Giselle's home. He was eventually jailed for his vicious attack.
Meanwhile, Giselle needed three physiotherapy sessions per week for the next six months, as well as electro therapy and PT exercises to rebuild strength in her damaged jaw.
But just four months after being jailed, Crawford was allowed back onto the streets after paying bail. Despite court orders in place prohibiting him from contacting Giselle, she claims he repeatedly tormented her.
Giselle claims her ex called her from jail and sent her roses and cards to apologise for the attack and even made numerous fake social media profiles to contact her when she blocked him on everything.
"I thought how can he just keep bailing out - how is he even allowed to get out, this person is a monster," she said
And in July 2020, Giselle claims he subjected her to yet another frightening ordeal.
She said: "He kidnapped me while I was out walking my dog - he rented a car and drove by my house and put me in the car and had me there for a couple hours.
"I kept trying to exit the vehicle even while he was driving just to get away.
"Eventually I convinced him we would work things out if he took me home, just saying whatever he needed to hear to take me back to safety."
After 18 months, Crawford was re-arrested and pleaded guilty to corporal injury to a spouse in September of this year.
On 13 October, he was sentenced to three years in prison.
Now, brave Giselle is speaking out about her experience to encourage other domestic abuse victims to "stay strong" and report every incident of abuse.
She said: "It was a big relief when he was convicted but I was thinking why didn't he get more time, it's scary.
"And it took forever, I don't understand how someone can live in fear as I did for 18 months before they finally do something about it.
"Just know you are not alone and you can get through this. Stay strong and never stop fighting."
If you are in an abusive relationship and need help, you can call the UK 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247
