A woman has said she lives in "constant fear" and is an "empty shell" of her past self after her abuser was jailed again.
Rose Worley was left unable to work and on anti-depressants after suffering abuse at the hands of her ex-partner Michael Stimson.
The 39-year-old has spoken out after Stimson, 41, from Hythe, was jailed at Portsmouth Crown Court on July 5 for assaulting and strangling her.
READ MORE: Hythe: Stalker Michael Stimson made 559 calls to victim
He was given 24 months in prison, which will be added on to the three years and four months he is currently serving for stalking Rose - calling her 560 times in 36 hours - as well as sending her offensive messages and criminal damage.
But she told the Echo she must now "spend the rest of [her] life being terrified that he will turn up again one day" and has criticised the legal system for its understanding of domestic abuse.
READ MORE: Man who attacked his girlfriend and threatened to burn down a farm is jailed
She said: "He got sentenced to less time for beating me and almost strangling me to death then he did for phoning me up, which is ridiculous.
"The justice system is just completely flawed when it comes to domestic violence.
"On the day he was sober he was lovely. And that is how the abuse works.
"This is why abusers get away with it because they are too scared to come forward at the time.
"There needs to be more training on it for people in the legal stance. It shouldn’t matter if he has been a model prisoner. It is outside he can’t behave himself."
The couple were together just under a year and Rose said Stimson would accuse her of cheating and would make her send photographs to show where she was.
Rose said at one point she had to see a plastic surgeon as she had been hit so hard she had blurred vision for a month.
She said the year of abuse left her on long-term sick leave from her job as a pub manager and facing rising debts.
In a victim statement submitted to the crown court, Rose said: "I am now left an empty shell of who I used to be. I’m left feeling guilty.
"I am still not able to sleep properly and am woken by the slightest noise from my neighbours or passers-by in the street.
"I often break down with no warning, have panic attacks and cry inconsolably, sometimes so hard I am unable to stand up.
"I have still not been able to return to work for over a year now because of the issues I am suffering.
"I am not able to leave the house alone and I never leave the house at night.
"The deep psychological trauma I have endured will remain with me for the rest of my life."
Stimson pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation on June 7, 2024, 20 months after they took place.
During the stalking case, the court was told he has a "troubled past" and a "troubled relationship with alcohol”.
Rose was also granted an 11-year restraining order against him.
Rose, from Portsmouth, said: "I have been coercively controlled, manipulated, triangulated, body shamed, harassed, maligned, love bombed, heavily trauma bonded, devalued, tortured and belittled just to name a few.
"I don’t believe I will ever be in another relationship now, I don’t think I will ever be able to trust anyone again.
"I had tried to leave several times before but I was too weak. I live in constant fear of Michael now."
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