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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Sophie McCoid

ITV Holly Willoughby close to tears on This Morning as kidnapped Liverpool backpacker tells story

Holly Willoughby was close to tears this morning as a Liverpool backpacker who was kidnapped in Australia told her story.

Elisha Greer travelled to Australia in 2015 aged 22.

Elisha stayed with her godparents for a couple of weeks and then went off travelling around the country.

It was in Cairns that Elisha met Marcus Martin and her ordeal began.

Elisha Greer spoke to Holly and Phil (ITV)

Elisha, now 24, told Holly and Phil about the shocking abuse she had to go through.

She said: "Everyone else got along with him, he seemed like a normal person and we got on.

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"We were just mates, and I ended up shared a hotel room with him.

Marcus Martin has pleaded guilty to three counts of rape (Sunday Night)

"But one night he got drunk and he went crazy, throwing stuff around the room,  he went like an animal."

Marcus then smashed her phone and gave her black eyes and scratched and bit Elisha.

And then the abuse began, with Elisha being constantly raped and abused.

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Holly and Phil asked why she never tried to escape and she said: "He told me if I ever was away from him he would murder me. 

"I became numb, I just didn't think about ut anymore, it becomes normal.

Elisha Greer on This Morning (ITV)

"He was threatening my family said he was in gangs, i thought if i stay with him he wont have a reason to hurt anyone else.

"He thought i was interpol and I was after him, scared I would tell the police.

Elisha finally escaped her captor as she got arrested by the police, for not paying for petrol and the whole story was revealed.

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Elisha's family came out to bring her back to Liverpool but Elisha said it'd changed her family forever.

She said: "Everyone was pretty traumatised, it's changed my family for sure, I'm dealing with it in my own way.

Elisha Greer was continually abused (ITV)

"I'm happy that its going to be over, but annoyed hes not getting all of the sentencing done.

"But I'd love to do it again - apart from that part."

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Martin pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, one count of deprivation of liberty, supplying dangerous drugs, willful damage, assault occasioning bodily harm and strangulation.

He is due to be sentenced on May 28.

Holly Willoughby looked concerned on This Morning (ITV)

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Throughout the interview Holly looked close to tears and as Elisha finished her story she said: "It's horrible - I'm so sorry."

And viewers were also shocked by Elisha's story.

One said: "Wow what a brave young lady, horrendous ordeal she’s been really through."

Another said: "My heart is breaking for this woman. I can't even think about what it must be like to be backpacking on holiday and then be kidnapped. So scary! This woman is so wonderful for speaking out and raising awareness. Sending her all of my love! x"

And a third said: "This is exactly why I am too scared to travel/backpack. I'd love too but too scared."

*This Morning continues at 10:30am on ITV tomorrow

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