The Mancunian Way: A campaign of abuse

Yahoo

21-02-2025

After years of control, abuse, isolation, fear and horrific violence, Hannah Mellor is finally free.
Last week, her abusive ex-partner, Ben Fitton, was finally brought to justice and jailed for 18 years.
Hannah has now bravely waived her right to anonymity and told the Manchester Evening News about the unimaginable campaign of abuse she endured.
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Fitton, 33, sent thousands of vile messages and voice notes to Hannah, repeatedly attacked her and would routinely throw cups of tea over her.
He raped her after strangling her and threatening to pour a kettle of boiling water over her if she didn't perform a sex act upon him.
But it was when Fitton made a terrifying threat to go to her little boy's school with a knife, that she knew she had to do something to make it stop.
"It got to a point that I didn't care anymore," Hannah, 32, told the M.E.N.. "I said it wasn't a big issue if he killed me, because being killed was probably better than living the life I was.
"I know it was hard, my mum told all my family to prepare themselves to have to bury me. She thought he was going to go too far or do it on purpose or I would take my own life.
"She wasn't far off wrong."
After a five-week trial, Fitton, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of two offences of rape, non-fatal strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour and causing grievous bodily harm.
You can read Hannah's harrowing interview with court reporter Amy Walker here.
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