July 24, 200719 yr Domestic abuse victim was 'forced to get into dog basket' Last updated at 16:40pm on 24th July 2007 Comments A 27-year-old subjected to degrading and prolonged cruelty at the hands of her former partner hopes her case will help other women. Caroline Morris has praised the police for giving her the confidence to go to court and give evidence against her tormentor, ex-partner Paul Lidford, after an abusive relationship lasting more than five years. Lidford was jailed by Mold Crown Court after it heard that he would force her to get into a dog basket and subjected her to other cruel acts. Miss Morris, a residential child care officer, said: "I am very grateful to North Wales Police for their help and support. "They are using a new system where local agencies come together and help the victim break away from the terrible cycle that domestic violence can become," she explained. "I was offered support from the police, Women's Aid, witness protection and from local housing agencies. They gave me all the help and support I needed to finally break away." Miss Morris admitted that she had previously made complaints but then could not go through the ordeal of giving evidence. But thanks to the support she received this time she had been able to go through with it. "Victims now get offered so much help it is fantastic," she said. "I had support every day and I had a domestic violence officer come to court with me. It was really good." Lidford admitted what he had done to a probation officer preparing a pre-sentence report after his trial in February. He was jailed for two years and five months and an order was made that he must never approach Caroline again under an indefinite ASBO. The judge, Mr Recorder Philip Marshall, said that she was clearly still suffering from the treatment she received at his hands. Sentencing Lidford, the judge said that the defendant had regularly used violence against her – punching her on a weekly basis. "She felt worthless and despite what was happening had feelings for you," the judge said. The fact that she had previously withdrawn complaints of assault was because of the domination he had secured over her by violence and verbal abuse. She suffered flashbacks and nightmares and the judge said that a victim impact statement she gave after the trial made horrendous reading. The victim was clearly terrified that when released he would contact her again, and the judge said that he was concerned that he had written to her after his conviction. During the trial in February a jury heard how Miss Morris was forced to lie in a dog's bed and threatened that if she looked from under the blanket she would be assaulted. It was a cruel and degrading act which happened about five times. On one occasion, it ended up with her being kicked repeatedly after she looked out from the under the blanket, believing the coast to be clear. She was also subjected to other assaults and abuse – including incidents where she would be forced to stand against a wall naked with her hands on her head. If she moved then Lidford would push her face into the wall, it was alleged. Miss Morris wept continuously in the witness box as she told the jury that she had reported matters to the police in the past including an incident when he whipped her with a dog lead. But she had always withdrawn them, believing that he loved her and would change. However, she said she now realised that he would never change and that she could not put up with it any more. "I just cannot live like that any more," she said.
July 28, 200719 yr Hold on... she was a residential CHILD CARE officer. Isn't that kind of ensuring the welfare and care of children against this and yet allowed it to happen to herself for 5years. Wouldn't that affect her mental state during that time? Seems very odd. And a real mistake of misinterpreting love for dependency. S
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