A courageous mother-of-two has shared her path back to control of her freedom and her life after being trapped for almost two years in isolation under the control of a manipulative, abusive man.
The quick-thinking of midwives and NHS staff helped to free 23-year-old Holly Jepson and her child from violent drug addict Thomas Fosbrook, 33, who had managed to isolate them from the world outside their flat.
The judge said Fosbrook treated Holly as "nothing more than an object to satisfy [his] demands."
He added that the relationship, on his part, was "characterised by physical and psychological abuse on a regular basis".
Holly and her daughter with Fosbrook lived a life of isolation from her friends and family for two years, until she fell pregnant with her second child.
The Manchester Evening News reports that Holly was able to confide in staff at the neonatal clinic about her abuse. A court heard how they devised a series of codes like 'mixed-up blood test results' to arrange appointments with her, allowing them to check on her without Fosbrook knowing.
It led to Holly managing to send an email of evidence in secret to her mother, who alerted police leading to Fosbrook's arrest in May.
Fosbrook, who is a chef by trade, is now serving a three-year prison sentence after admitting a charge of coercive and controlling behaviour. Judge Potter also imposed a restraining order for an indefinite period.
Read more: See our latest court stories here
The relationship
Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard he met Holly, who was employed at the same restaurant, in January 2019 and shortly after they moved in together.
In a distressing case of domestic violence, the court heard Fosbrook sold most of the furniture in the flat to fund his drug habit.
Additionally, he forced Holly to cut ties with her mother, removed doors from the flat so he could constantly see her and even painted over the windows of the living room and kitchen so no one could see inside, despite being on the eighth floor, said prosecutor Rachel Widdicombe.
The court heard Fosbrook 'had control of the only mobile phone in the house' and slept 'closest to the door to stop her leaving'.
Fosbrook also had control of their finances, leaving Holly and their daughter relying on food banks. Holly was also prevented from wearing make-up, told what clothes to wear, and altered the flat's intercom to prevent access.
Ms Widdicombe said Fosbrook kept a hammer hidden under the sofa.
"He threatened to kill her, which she believed he would carry out," said the prosecutor.
"He assaulted her numerous times, but refused to allow her to go to hospital. She was in genuine fear for her life."
In a chilling act of cruelty, the court heard Fosbrook refused to allow Holly dental treatment, resulting in her removing her own braces with a pair of pliers.
Holly's story
Holly told the Manchester Evening News she wanted to share her story to give hope to other women living with domestic violence.
In a moving victim impact statement read in court, she said looking back she was "easily charmed" - and Fosbrook's "promise of love and affection was nothing but a facade from the start."
"Whether it is when I first wake up in the morning, or try to settle for sleep at night, I always find myself thinking back to what Tom has put me and my daughter through, and it only succeeds in bringing back the heartache," she said.
"Within the first year of the relationship, there were already signs that I can look back on and realise that the coercive control was steadily rooting very early.
"He displayed his insecurities by demanding that I do not talk to any men at the restaurant where we worked, whether it was members of staff or customers, admitting that if he found out men were talking to me, he would want to come out from the kitchen and stab them.
"He made it clear that I was to dress the way he wanted me to, and that I was to stop wearing make-up.
"While living in our flat with my daughter, I was firmly instructed to make no contact with anyone, whether it be with neighbours or visitors at our door.
"Both me and my daughter were living in total isolation for almost two years, only ever able to go out when with Tom, never on our own. When we did occasionally go out together, it was mainly to do a quick shop with the little money we were left with every month."
Holly feared leaving the house in case Fosbrook mistook her looking around as her looking at other men. She said he could be "set off" easily and she would do all she could to avoid the humiliation in public.
"Prior to meeting Tom, I was undergoing orthodontic treatment which I was paying for privately," she added in the statement.
"However this was never completed as I was no longer able to pay for my treatment. And because I was refused the chance to go back to have my braces removed, I was left with no choice but to remove my own braces with pliers.
"I was shoved around, slapped in the face, but he was very calculated with his more vicious attacks, and would punch and kick me within my hairline so that the damage was hidden well.
"He would assert his dominance and fear within me by punching walls, throwing plates and decorative ornaments at walls, and destroying what little furniture we had until we barely had anything.
"I watched the computer I had personally built myself smashed up in front of me.
"The humiliation and intimidation from him is still fresh in my mind."
The abuse was so intense that Holly considered jumping out of the window of their eigth-storey flat.
"Waking up to my beautiful little girl on a daily basis kept me from doing so, as I could never imagine leaving her," Holly added.
"All of this violence is something that my young daughter has had to witness during the most vulnerable years of her life, and when she was exposed to the aggression that I endured, she was visibly scared and afraid.
"She would run to me with open arms as I sat and cried after what Tom had done to me. The bond I have with her is something that had kept me strong throughout."
Escaping the abuse
Holly told how she 'seized the opportunity' to confide in the midwives.
"This would have been my only chance at a cry for help as I was able to speak to the midwives without the presence of Tom monitoring what I am saying to the professionals due to Covid restrictions.
"They helped me to contact my mother after two years of not speaking, and I was able to email my mum all of the details of what had been happening.
"The detail in my email was enough evidence for the police to arrest Tom, and have me escorted out of the flat to finally be back with my family."
Holly said she, her daughter and her son were now "in a familiar and loving environment, surrounded by my close family and friends."
"Now that I am away from him, I am only just starting to learn to love myself, and rebuild the confidence which he had shattered," she added.
"I am determined to be the best and strongest person, and mother, that I can be for my children.
"I understand now that when you are in a relationship with an egotistical, narcissistic, abuser, there is no such thing as love. No matter how much they make you feel that you are loved, that your children are loved, you are nothing but a target for them.
"I desperately hope that he is never given the chance to destroy another woman's life."
To get the latest news from WalesOnline sent to your email inbox click here.
