Latest news with #StephanieBoardman
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Yahoo
Victim of coercive control calls for domestic abusers' register
A victim of coercive and controlling behaviour has called for stronger measures to be used against domestic abusers. Stephanie Boardman was in a relationship with Franco Lucci for several months over 2023 and 2024, with the couple living together in Westhoughton. Lucci, 33, coercively controlled Stephanie, from Leigh, over the course of their relationship, including putting trackers in her car and smashing her phone against the wall. After she split up with him, he then stalked her, despite having been told not to make contact. Lucci, of Wigan Road, Westhoughton, was brought before Bolton Crown Court last month, when he was given a two-year suspended sentence for his abuse of Stephanie. She spoke to The Bolton News about his treatment of her following the conclusion of the case. Now, Stephanie is calling for more stringent measures on domestic abusers. She wants a facility more similar to the sex offenders' register, where domestic abusers have to keep the police informed of their whereabouts. Read more: 'You should really carry around a red flag to warn any future partners' - judge Read more: Victim of controlling and coercive man bravely speaks out after partner faces justice Read more: GMP secure first domestic abuse protection order She said: "I know it seems like a lot, but with the current state of domestic violence, it is needed. "For example, they might offend in one place and then move elsewhere and people won't know. I want more than Clare's Law. "It is highlighting the fact that it does happen. "Everything going on around domestic violence is escalating and something needs to be done." To sign Stephanie's petition, follow this link: A tool called Clare's Law does exist, which allows anyone who is worried their current or ex-partner, or a friend's current or ex-partner, may have a history of domestic abuse, to request a domestic violence disclosure from the police. In recent months, GMP have rolled out domestic abuse protection orders (DAPOs), which can be used to protect victims from all types of domestic abuse offences, including physical, sexual, or coercive and controlling behaviour. They are intended to provide longer-lasting and stronger protections for victims than powers already available. Stephanie added: "DAPOs are being brought in but police forces are stretched as they are." She suggested that the register could be run by the probation service, with domestic abusers reporting to them once every three months. She said: "I want to try and get the government to listen on getting this register. I think it will prevent repeat offenders from doing it. "If the police are aware of where a domestic abuser is, it will make survivors of domestic abuse feel a lot better." A GMP spokesperson said: "Officers are utilising recently introduced DAPOs as part of their arsenal of measures to tackle domestic abuse offences in Greater Manchester. "DAPOs – Domestic Abuse Protection Orders – provide greater opportunities to support victims and once they are in place, officers conduct regular compliance checks, to ensure the offender is adhering to the necessary conditions. "More than 100 DAPOs have been put in place since the pilot began around five months ago, with the breach of one being an arrestable offence. Eighty five per cent of stalking offences in GM are domestic-related, and the DAPOs are a further tool being used to help victims. "We are encouraging victims to come forward and report to us, however, wish to make it known that support is available whether you choose to speak with police or not." The spokesperson added: "GM Victims' Service stands firm in its offer of support to all victims and witnesses of crime, whether the crime has been reported to police or not. If you need support, reach out to them via the below contact details: "Call 0800 876 6155 (Saturday 9am-5pm / Monday to Friday 8am-6pm), email GMVictims@ The Ministry of Justice has been approached for a comment about Stephanie's petition.
Scottish Sun
22-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
My boyfriend's abuse was bad I slept in the attic as my 8-year-old comforted me & told me ‘it'd be okay'
Stephanie found that Lucci had activated a Google Maps tracker on her phone without her knowledge AWFUL ABUSE My boyfriend's abuse was bad I slept in the attic as my 8-year-old comforted me & told me 'it'd be okay' – I was broken Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN abuse victim who was stalked by her partner and tracked with a hidden Apple AirTag is urging women to check their partner's domestic violence records. Stephanie Boardman, 31, is now too afraid to leave the house after running away from her relationship with Franco Lucci, 33. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Stephanie Boardman, victim of domestic abuse Credit: SWNS 5 Franco Lucci and Stephanie Boardman Credit: SWNS 5 Franco Lucci, aged 33, abused his partner, Stephanie Boardman, from Leigh Credit: SWNS The couple got together in 2022. While he seemed 'charming' at first, things went downhill after they moved in together. Franco began to accuse her of cheating, got angry when she spoke with friends, called her names including 'sl**' and 'b****', covertly recorded her conversations, and even smashed her phone against a wall. The mum-of-three said: "I'd reached a point where I couldn't keep sleeping in the attic with my daughters in floods of tears, and having my eight-year-old stroking my head, telling me it was all going to be OK. "It's not normal, it should be the other way around. That was one of the final straws for me. "I slept in the attic the night before I ran, with my 14-month-old son in the bed. "I woke up because he was wet, he'd seeped through his pyjamas and the bedding. "I got up, got him changed, and put him in the bed with Franco to keep him warm. Immediately Franco started going off on one again. "I went down, got myself changed, took my son with me. I thought 'this is it, if I don't go now, I won't go', and I went." Just before they moved in together, one of Stephanie's daughters found an Apple AirTag hidden under the seat in her car - which the now-convicted stalker said he had simply lost. Later in the relationship, Stephanie found that Lucci had activated a Google Maps tracker on her phone without her knowledge after he texted asking why she was at a particular location. Stacey Solomon figths back tears as Sort Your Life Out guest breaks down over harrowing past Just weeks before she finally ran away, Stephanie found her boyfriend would know what she had been saying on private phone conversations with her own mother. She later found out he had covertly placed a phone in their living room to record her while he was out. Stephanie said: "I let a lot of things slide, because I did love him. He had that control over me. "He had that power over me, I was completely in love with him so I did a lot of things that he did, and let the red flags at the beginning slide." Clare's Law Now, Stephanie, who lives in Wigan, Greater Manchester, is hoping to promote the use of 'Clare's Law', also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. After reporting Franco to police in February 2024, she found out he was known to Avon and Somerset Police, having made 'threats to kill' a victim and punching a hole in a wall. The disclosure also noted that Lucci had a non-molestation order against him in relation to one of his former partners. The abusive partner was released pending police enquiries, but began to stalk his ex-partner in June 2024, trying to phone her 71 times and showing up at her home despite an order not to contact her. I would recommend highly utilising Clare's Law Stephanie Stephanie said: "I didn't originally know about Clare's Law, it was the police that applied for the disclosure on my behalf, because they deemed it in my best interest. "Originally I retracted my statement. At that point I was still in love with him and very much in a fantasyland of 'we'll get back together and everything will be OK'. "Then it just went worse. I got a fire in my bonnet. The Clare's Law highlighted so much of his past. "I would recommend highly utilising Clare's Law." On April 7, Lucci, of Bolton, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. Bolton Crown Court At Bolton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: "This is a case which involves insidious and pernicious behaviour by you, where you had used an AirTag and have activated the tracking of her phone on your device and used a secondary audio recording device in her home for up to 12 hours at a time to monitor every aspect of her life. "You have broken her devices and you have behaved in the most appalling manner towards her." He added: "You should really carry around a red flag to warn any future partners of your misconduct." The abuser was also given a restraining order for 10 years which means he can't go within 50 metres of any address Stephanie lives at, and he's subject to a five-month curfew from 8pm to 7am. Stephanie says she's glad justice has been served - but she is still too afraid to leave the home alone. 5 Franco he continued to abuse his partner, throwing her phone against the wall Credit: SWNS 5 The two had a child together Credit: SWNS She said: "I don't work at the minute, due to everything that's been going on. I haven't left the house since February last year. "I don't leave the house on my own. One of his big threats was he was going to take [my son] and run away to Italy and I'd never see him again. "That's been one of the forefront fears in my head. If I go out on my own, without backup, if he approaches me all he has to do is grab the pram and he's gone. "I don't leave the house out of fear of that."
The Irish Sun
22-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
My boyfriend's abuse was bad I slept in the attic as my 8-year-old comforted me & told me ‘it'd be okay'
AN abuse victim who was stalked by her partner and tracked with a hidden Apple AirTag is urging women to check their partner's domestic violence records. Stephanie Boardman, 31, is now too afraid to leave the house after running away from her relationship with Franco Lucci, 33. Advertisement 5 Stephanie Boardman, victim of domestic abuse Credit: SWNS 5 Franco Lucci and Stephanie Boardman Credit: SWNS 5 Franco Lucci, aged 33, abused his partner, Stephanie Boardman, from Leigh Credit: SWNS The couple got together in 2022. While he seemed 'charming' at first, things went downhill after they moved in together. Franco began to accuse her of cheating, got angry when she spoke with friends, called her names including 'sl**' and 'b****', covertly recorded her conversations, and even smashed her phone against a wall. The mum-of-three said: "I'd reached a point where I couldn't keep sleeping in the attic with my daughters in floods of tears, and having my eight-year-old stroking my head, telling me it was all going to be OK. "It's not normal, it should be the other way around. That was one of the final straws for me. Advertisement READ MORE ON MENTAL HEALTH "I slept in the attic the night before I ran, with my 14-month-old son in the bed. "I woke up because he was wet, he'd seeped through his pyjamas and the bedding. "I got up, got him changed, and put him in the bed with Franco to keep him warm. Immediately Franco started going off on one again. "I went down, got myself changed, took my son with me. I thought 'this is it, if I don't go now, I won't go', and I went." Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Just before they moved in together, one of Stephanie's daughters found an Apple AirTag hidden under the seat in her car - which the now-convicted stalker said he had simply lost. Later in the relationship, Stephanie found that Lucci had activated a Google Maps tracker on her phone without her knowledge after he texted asking why she was at a particular location. Stacey Solomon figths back tears as Sort Your Life Out guest breaks down over harrowing past Just weeks before she finally ran away, Stephanie found her boyfriend would know what she had been saying on private phone conversations with her own mother. She later found out he had covertly placed a phone in their living room to record her while he was out. Advertisement Stephanie said: "I let a lot of things slide, because I did love him. He had that control over me. "He had that power over me, I was completely in love with him so I did a lot of things that he did, and let the red flags at the beginning slide." Clare's Law Now, Stephanie, who lives in Wigan, Greater Manchester, is hoping to promote the use of 'Clare's Law ', also known as the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme. After reporting Franco to police in February 2024, she found out he was known to Avon and Somerset Police, having made 'threats to kill' a victim and punching a hole in a wall. Advertisement The disclosure also noted that Lucci had a non-molestation order against him in relation to one of his former partners. The abusive partner was released pending police enquiries, but began to stalk his ex-partner in June 2024, trying to phone her 71 times and showing up at her home despite an order not to contact her. I would recommend highly utilising Clare's Law Stephanie Stephanie said: "I didn't originally know about Clare's Law, it was the police that applied for the disclosure on my behalf, because they deemed it in my best interest. "Originally I retracted my statement. At that point I was still in love with him and very much in a fantasyland of 'we'll get back together and everything will be OK'. Advertisement "Then it just went worse. I got a fire in my bonnet. The Clare's Law highlighted so much of his past. "I would recommend highly utilising Clare's Law." On April 7, Lucci, of Bolton, Greater Manchester, was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. Bolton Crown Court At Bolton Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said: "This is a case which involves insidious and pernicious behaviour by you, where you had used an AirTag and have activated the tracking of her phone on your device and used a secondary audio recording device in her home for up to 12 hours at a time to monitor every aspect of her life. "You have broken her devices and you have behaved in the most appalling manner towards her." Advertisement He added: "You should really carry around a red flag to warn any future partners of your misconduct." The abuser was also given a restraining order for 10 years which means he can't go within 50 metres of any address Stephanie lives at, and he's subject to a five-month curfew from 8pm to 7am. Stephanie says she's glad justice has been served - but she is still too afraid to leave the home alone. 5 Franco he continued to abuse his partner, throwing her phone against the wall Credit: SWNS Advertisement 5 The two had a child together Credit: SWNS She said: "I don't work at the minute, due to everything that's been going on. I haven't left the house since February last year. "I don't leave the house on my own. One of his big threats was he was going to take [my son] and run away to Italy and I'd never see him again. "That's been one of the forefront fears in my head. If I go out on my own, without backup, if he approaches me all he has to do is grab the pram and he's gone. Advertisement "I don't leave the house out of fear of that." Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
