'The support my Jessica needed is still not there'
The mother of a woman who took her own life after suffering domestic abuse says the authorities are still not working together to support victims.Jessica Laverack, 34, was found dead at her home in Beverley, East Yorkshire, on 2 February 2018.At her inquest, the coroner urged the government to recognise "the link between domestic abuse and suicide".East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it had made "strategic and operational improvements, learning from Jessica's case, to better support all those affected by domestic abuse".
But Ms Laverack's mother, Phyllis Daly, said her daughter was failed by the authorities and the current system was "not fit for purpose".Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour, Ms Daly, 70, said there needed to be a review of the support system.She said: "We've just used it for so many years, but nobody's challenged [it and asked] 'Does it work?'"They have institutional blinkers on – 'It's not my agency, not my problem'."But they need to work together with domestic abuse as that central factor."
Ms Daly's comments came after a report found the number of victims of domestic abuse who took their own lives in England and Wales surpassed the amount of people killed by their partners for the second year in a row.The Domestic Homicide Project found 98 people were suspected to have killed themselves after experiencing domestic abuse in the year to March 2024. During the same period, 80 people were killed by their partners.After Ms Laverack's inquest, East Riding and Hull coroner Lorraine Harris wrote to the government calling for a fresh approach to help those deemed at risk.Ms Daly said she had fought for the inquest to recognise the link between domestic abuse and her daughter's death."At a time of grief it shouldn't be a battle, but nobody could understand or see what I was saying," she said."They didn't seem to see that link that I saw between domestic abuse and suicide...had the abuse not been there, she wouldn't want to take her life."
Ms Daly said she nearly lost her home paying for legal fees, but her campaigning had "helped me through my grief".She added: "I think if I hadn't been battling, fighting, I would have gone under."I can't bring my Jessie back but hopefully I can save some more Jessies out there and give them a better future to look forward to."
In a statement, East Riding of Yorkshire Council said it "remains deeply saddened by Jessica's case".It added: "Following Jessica's death, we have made strategic and operational improvements, learning from Jessica's case, to better support all those affected by domestic abuse."We are improving how we hear the voice of the those with lived experience of domestic abuse, how we communicate with partner agencies at the earliest opportunity, and how we respond and prevent domestic abuse related suicide."If you have been affected by issues raised in this report, details of organisations offering information and support are available via BBC Action Line.Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Fears big cat prowling in sleepy UK town as mutilated corpse discovered
WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES: Locals in a quiet UK town have been left in shock over fears a big cat could be roaming around after a mutilated corpse was found There are concerns that a big cat could be prowling through a quiet UK town after a mutilated animal corpse was found. Residents in the sleepy Worcestershire town of Bewdley have been left in shock after a half eaten deer carcass was discovered with its insides completely devoured. The terrifying find was partially hidden in bushes in the Wyre Forest on the outskirts of Bewdley, around 20 miles south west of Birmingham. Passer-by Jessica Lodge, who came across the carcass, revealed this sort of find was unusual for this quiet area. She said: "I haven't seen anything like this before and this is an area I go to a lot. "We were there during the day and the deer was not there. And we went back the day after and that's when we found it." Jessica revealed why she believed a big cat was behind the attack. She added: "It had most certainly been put there to be eaten. It was an enclosed area with barbed wire fencing in the Wyre forest. It definitely didn't just die in the middle of a bramble bush. "Definitely never seen anything like it before. I absolutely think it's possible it was done by a big cat. There have been other sightings too." She said her father was going to put down some trail cameras to try and capture the beast on film. Jessica is not the only local convinced a big cat is on the prowl through their small town. One person commented online: "There's definitely big cats in the Bewdley and Wyre Forest area. Puncture wounds on the neck would be a dead giveaway." Another local added: "That has the hallmarks of a big cat killing." And a third claimed: "Removing the stomach contents before eating is classic big cat behaviour." While another said: "I'm definitely having a look around there - hopefully I'll see it." A big cat was spotted six miles away from Bewdley in Eymore Wood, Trimpley recently. A dog walker from Halesowen was out walking her four-year-old rescue dog when she looked down the path and noticed a large black shape peering out from the edge of the woods about 30-feet away. And last year, Professor Robin Allaby, from Warwick University, said up to 100 big cats could be roaming the British countryside. The expert, who specialises in Life Sciences, found evidence of 'Panthera genus' DNA on a sheep carcass in the Lake District. It indicated the presence of a lion, leopard, tiger, jaguar, or snow leopard in the wilds of the UK.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- BBC News
Domestic abuse victims offered safe spaces in East Yorkshire shops
Businesses across East Yorkshire are providing safe spaces for victims of domestic initiative, supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, provides people with a private area in stores to call support services or loved well as physical locations, organisations can also offer online safe websites will be accessible by a discreet button and will ensure that no trace of the victim using the service is left behind, the council said. This project is running alongside the existing Ask for Angela initiative, which enables individuals who feel unsafe, threatened, or vulnerable to discreetly seek assistance by asking bar or venue staff for "Angela." Trained personnel can then intervene by helping the individual leave discreetly, calling a taxi, or alerting authorities if Lyn Healing, cabinet member for communities and public protection, said that everybody had "a role to play in supporting victims of domestic abuse and preventing violence against women and girls. "It's fantastic to see local businesses participate in this vital initiative," she said."We encourage more organisations to sign up to create their own safe spaces."As list of the safe spaces across the county can be found on the UK Says No More to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
I never knew being loud & angry was toxic until Ercan asked me 1 thing during a row – it changed me, says Vicky Pattison
This follow Vicky describing her 'difficult' first year of marriage TOXIC TRAIT I never knew being loud & angry was toxic until Ercan asked me 1 thing during a row – it changed me, says Vicky Pattison Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) VICKY Pattison revealed the one poignant question husband Ercan Ramadan asked her during a petty row which changed her forever. The reality star, 37, said on Pete Wicks' Man Made podcast how her clothing brand owner partner, 41, has been helping her unlearn 'toxic' habits. 5 Vicky Pattison Credit: Fabulous Magazine 5 Vicky tied the knot with Ercan Ramadan in 2024 Credit: Instagram 5 The reality star, pictured on Geordie Shore, shared how she used to 'shout' and be 'angry' - until Ercan made a comment Credit: MTV She shared: 'I had always saw communication from a very young age, being the child of an alcoholic, communication was loud. 'It's often quite scary but you quickly adapt to that, children do. 'I assumed in a relationship when you loved someone, you shouted basically. 'That's how I communicate, I'm angry, I'm loud and I never thought it was toxic. It was what I assumed you did.' However, former Geordie Shore star Vicky said everything changed when she had a 'little row' with her then-boyfriend six months into their relationship. She continued: 'Honeymoon period's over. He's seeing the real me. 'I'm not pretending I like football and kebabs anymore, I'm giving him the full Vicky Pattison experience which is terrifying. 'I remember we had this little row and I instantly escalated it because that's what I did.' Vicky said that the sentence that Ercan said to her made her rethink her behaviour in relationships. She explained: 'He stood there really quietly and he looked back and said 'why are you shouting at me when you're meant to love me?' Vicky Pattison reveals 'difficult' first year of marriage with husband Ercan 'I'm not often speechless and he completely stopped me in my tracks. 'All of my defences, all of my walls, all of my anger, it all just melted away in an instant. 'I was like 'I don't know why', because this is what I have always done and this is what men have always done to me and I didn't know there was another way to communicate even when you loved someone, I thought that's what you did.' Vicky and Ercan have been together since 2019, and he popped the question in 2022, with the pair tying the knot in Italy in 2024. Speaking of her husband, the TV and radio star said: 'Ercan's taught me an awful lot about what a healthy relationship should look like, what communication can be, what a man can be.' 5 The couple said 'I do' at The Old Marylebone Town Hall in 2024 before an Italian wedding Credit: Splash TOUGH YEAR Despite only getting married in August 2024, Vicky has previously opened up about it being a difficult first year. Speaking to the BBC's Woman's Hour, she said: "I don't think it's how anyone anticipates their first six months of marriage, you know, it's a very alien experience. "I mean it has been difficult, I have been frustrated, I have been upset and I have been overwhelmed quite a lot. He [Ercan] stood there really quietly and he looked back and said 'why are you shouting at me when you're meant to love me?' Vicky Pattison "So even without thinking about the deepfake itself, I haven't been a joy to live with quite frankly and I do feel for my husband but he's very supportive." Vicky was referring to her husband supporting her as she faced backlash over her deepfake porn documentary called My Deepfake Sex Tape, which some victims criticised as a 'PR stunt' and 'deeply disrespectful'. The documentary involved her directing actors to simulate a sex scene, then allowing AI to add her face to the footage. FUTURE KIDS 5 Vicky said Ercan has shown 'what a man can be' Credit: instagram She previously opened up to OK! Magazine about her views on having children with Ercan. Vicky shared: 'Everyone thought we'd try for kids quite quickly – so did we! But we're going to enjoy being married, for at least a year. Ercan's taught me an awful lot about what a healthy relationship should look like, what communication can be, what a man can be Vicky Pattison 'I'd love a honeymoon first! A little week in the Caribbean would be lovely. "We're just desperate to sleep in the same bed together. "I sleep with the dogs and he sleeps in the spare room!'
