Latest news with #coercivecontrol
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Zara McDermott says she's ‘taking a step back' from ‘negative' social media amid Sam Thompson online abuse
ZARA McDermott is taking a hiatus from social media to focus on making a new documentary about family violence. The former Love Island star announced her break from socials just days after ex Sam Thompson came face to face with her new boyfriend, Louis Tomlinson. 3 3 She split from Made In Chelsea star, Sam, earlier this year after five years together and was spotted with the One Direction singer in March. Zara took to her Instagram stories to update her fans and explain why she was stepping away from social media for a short while. "I also just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who messaged me with regards to the story I posted the other day," she began. "If you didn't see it; I spoke about developing my next documentary and how I've been thinking of how to create a project about domestic abuse, coercive control and tech abuse." Zara revealed she had received thousands of message from people who had stories to share and she was still going through them. "But I wanted to say the biggest thank you ever. It's so nice speaking to you all because I've definitely taken a bit of a step back from socials to focus on my documentaries and other work just focusing on being more present recently," she explained. The TV star added: "Social media feels quite heavy and a negative space sometimes... so to be able to feel like we can work together to do something super positive is a great feeling. thank you again. forever grateful to all of you who continue to support the work i do. it really means SO much." Her post comes just days after Sam and Louis came face to face while representing England in the charity football match, Soccer Aid. The pair had already crossed paths on the training pitch last week, prior to Sam pulling out of the gam e due to injury and later attended the same pre-game dinner. Both men looked relaxed this evening as they milled around their hotel with fellow squad members. Zara has already ruled herself out of attending the star-studded match. Sam presented a video of his charity work in Guatemala to both sets of players, something he found much more nerve-racking than meeting Louis. He said: 'I did a small talk in front of everyone, which was terrifying, and I maintain I think it's the most important thing I've done in my 32 years of life. 'I really do believe that. Getting to go to Guatemala to see what UNICEF do on the ground is just life-changing.' 3
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Zara McDermott reveals she's 'taking a step back' from 'negative' social media just days after boyfriend Louis Tomlinson and ex Sam Thompson's feud was exposed
has revealed she's 'taking a step back' from 'negative' social media just days after boyfriend Louis Tomlinson and ex Sam Thompson 's feud was exposed. The Strictly star, 28, took to her Instagram Stories with a lengthy post following MailOnline exclusively revealing the One Direction singer, 33, brutally snubbing former Made In Chelsea star Sam, 32, after the full-time whistle blew at Soccer Aid. Zara went public with Louis in March, following her split from the I'm A Celeb winner on New Years Day after a five year romance. Taking to social media she thanked fans for their support over her recent documentary, before revealing she would be taking a break to be 'more present'. She wrote: 'I also just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who messaged me with regards to the story I posted the other day. If you didn't see it; I spoke about developing my next documentary and how I've been thinking of how to create a project about domestic abuse, coercive control and tech abuse'. 'I had thousands of message and I'm still going through them, but I wanted to say the biggest thank you ever. It's so nice speaking to you all because I've definitely taken a bit of a step back from socials to focus on my documentaries and other work / just focusing on being more present recently'. She went on: 'Social media feels quite heavy and a negative space sometimes... so to be able to feel like we can work together to do something super positive is a great feeling. thank you again. forever grateful to all of you who continue to support the work i do. it really means SO much'. In a video obtained by MailOnline from Old Trafford on Sunday, Louis was seen embracing players and coaching staff from both sets of teams before conducting a TV interview. But the singer ignored Sam when he came into view, turning his attention away and grimacing, before walking over to exchange pleasantries with other Soccer Aid stars. Insiders were anticipating an awkward encounter between the pair after Louis started dating Zara shortly after the Soccer Aid squads were announced. While Sam and Louis did their best to dispel speculation of a feud by avoiding each other during the Soccer Aid training and match, the video, taken by a fan, proves animosity between the pair rumbles on. An insider added: 'Louis is seen literally embracing every squad member on both sides, except Sam. And the fact he looks away as soon as he comes into eyesight says it all. 'Given the charity context of the occasion there was no way either Louis or Sam were going to let their emotions get the better of them, they were there to raise money and succeeded. But there's clearly no love lost between them.' They avoided each other during a training session in the buildup to the match at Soccer Aid HQ, Champneys in Tring and were stationed on different sides of the changing room at Old Trafford, as they managed to keep any possible tension at bay. Insiders were anticipating an awkward encounter between the pair after Louis started dating Zara shortly after the Soccer Aid squads were announced Before Sunday's match, which raised over £15million for UNICEF, The Sun revealed Sam and Louis both attended a team bonding session at the squad's hotel to ease any tension. Sam raised over £2million for the charity by taking part in a gruelling challenge, transporting the Soccer Aid match ball from Stamford Bridge, West London, to Old Trafford, Manchester, a 260-mile journey, via foot and bike. He managed to complete the task but picked up so many injuries, the reality star was unable to feature prominently in the actual match. The England teammates did not appear on the field together during the game, which was eventually won by the Rest of the World team, after Louis was withdrawn at half-time and Sam was introduced as a substitute with minutes remaining. Speaking on his podcast, Staying Relevant, which he co-hosts with close friend Pete Wicks, Sam discussed overcoming a difficult start to the year by thoroughly committing himself to his Soccer Aid challenge. Sam explained: 'I have never been so low but also so high at the same time... One of the things that I will say is that mentally I don't think there was a better time for me to do that. 'On Thursday, I left a lot on that road, I left a lot there and it was one of the most mentally freeing times I've ever had in my entire life. 'We rode and ran for the longest duration, all the way down the Welsh border and we finished in Liverpool, you know I'm a bit of a talker, but it was so hard, you just had to channel something. 'I left a lot of the year that I've had on that road, and I didn't speak for an hour and a half. I was riding the bike while crying for an hour and a half just tears streaming down my face just riding like I have never ridden before. 'I have never felt so emotionally depleted but also at peace.'
CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
Quebec coroner urges better police training on domestic violence
A Quebec coroner has raised questions about whether police missed domestic violence red flags in the case of a man who killed his three-year-old twin sons shortly after he was arrested — then released — for allegedly harassing his ex-partner. Coroner André Cantin says Ian Lamontagne displayed a pattern of coercive control toward the mother of the children before he killed the young boys and then himself in August 2023. "He tracked the children's mother, showed up at her house, repeatedly sent her text messages and frequent calls," Cantin wrote in a report released late Monday. Lamontagne was arrested outside the woman's residence in August 2023 for criminal harassment, then released on a promise to appear in court at a later date. The report does not mention charges being filed. About two days later, Lamontagne used helium to suffocate three-year-olds Antoine and Tristan Lamontagne at his home in Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, Que., north of Montreal. Repeated attempts by a potential perpetrator to control a partner or ex-partner are risk factors for domestic violence and homicide, Cantin noted in his report. And he questioned whether a mediator who counselled the family, or the police who responded to the mother's complaint, could have spotted the signs. "All the elements set out in the criminal harassment complaint in the context of domestic violence filed by the children's mother were significant risk factors," Cantin wrote. "The police could consider these risk factors to better assess the dangerousness of the situation and establish more restrictive conditions to ensure a safety net for the children." Coroner reports do not assign blame; rather, they make recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies. A domestic violence expert told The Canadian Press after the toddlers' deaths that there are several risk factors for domestic homicide: a couple's separation; escalation of abuse; expressions of fear; and a partner showing signs of depression, suicidal ideation or obsessive behaviour. Cantin's report noted that Lamontagne had been treated for depression and anxiety, and had attempted suicide in 2018 and 2022. The report also noted that Lamontagne and his partner had broken up multiple times before separating for good in early 2023. Following the separation, Lamontagne would call and text his former partner, telling her he knew where she was, the report said. She later found a phone hidden in her car. The mother called police on Aug. 24 after her neighbours reported seeing Lamontagne regularly driving around her building. Police who arrived to take her statement found Lamontagne near the premises and arrested him. He was released on the condition that he not contact his ex-partner other than to pick up or drop off the children. The following night he called so that she could wish her children good night. She accepted the call but called police after he made inappropriate comments. The officers later told her they had called Lamontagne to remind him of his conditions. Later that night, the coroner reported, Lamontagne asked a neighbour to borrow a gun because he said he was worried about his safety. The neighbour refused. It was the last time Lamontagne was seen alive. Tristan and Antoine Lamontagne were found dead on a bed the next day, on Aug. 26, underneath a tent connected by a hose to a helium canister. Their deaths were ruled a homicide. Ian Lamontagne was found dead on the premises, and his death was ruled a suicide. Cantin says the province's Public Safety Ministry as well as the police training school should ensure that current and future police officers are given more training on how to recognize potentially dangerous situations within families. Enlisted officers should receive a refresher day on domestic violence, he added. As well, he suggested the Justice Ministry develop a protocol for mediators to end counselling sessions when they observe coercive control and refer potential victims to aid services.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
I was trapped in an abusive relationship at 16, now I'm demanding schools protect teenagers better
A young woman who survived an abusive relationship as a teenager has called for education on domestic abuse and coercive behaviour to be made mandatory for sixth form and college students. Faustine Petron was just aged 16 when she became trapped in a coercive relationship with a fellow college student. When her former partner eventually received a prison sentence for stalking and harassment, she found herself reflecting on the lack of education and resources available for teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18. 'Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is mandatory from primary until the end of secondary school, but when you turn 16 there's no longer any access to these lessons,' she told The Independent. 'It doesn't make sense to leave out that key group when the average age a person has their first sexual experience is 16. It's illogical.' Current compulsory sex education ends when pupils finish their GCSEs at the age of 16, despite data from the Office for National Statistics showing that women and men aged 16 to 19 were the most likely of any age group to experience domestic abuse. Now studying a Masters in Sociology at the University of Cambridge, her petition, which has been signed by more than 105,000 participants, has received cross-party support and was delivered to No10 Downing Street on Monday afternoon. For Ms Petron, her teenage boyfriend had begun exhibiting abusive behaviour by controlling her movements, which began with him constantly checking on her location. Now aged 25, she believes that she may have been able to spot the warning signs sooner if the topic had been addressed by her college. 'I looked back at my school experience, I never had lessons on what coercive control is. How to identify it and how to get help,' she said. 'Starting the Make It Mandatory petition and seeing it gain such support has been really positive for me,' she added. 'It's been vulnerable and difficult doing it with lived experience as it rehashes memories but I know I'm just trying to make it better.' It comes after a report in April found that misogyny was becoming an increasing topic of concern within schools, with young boys becoming influenced by controversial figures such as Andrew Tate on social media. A report by Women's Aid found that children who consumed misogynistic social media content were almost five times more likely to view hurting someone physically as acceptable if you say sorry afterwards. Meanwhile, one in three women said they found the relationship and sex education they had in school as rushed and awkward, and a third (35 per cent) of 18-25-year-old respondents recalled no education about controlling behaviours throughout school. Lucy Emmerson, chief executive of the Sex Education Forum, which has supported the petition, said:'Extending RSE up to age of 18 is a natural next step to build on mandatory lessons in primary and secondary school. 'Young people have called for this extension because they know just how important relationships education is for them as they approach adulthood. The research evidence backs up their call, showing that education helps prevent sexual violence, abuse and poor sexual health. 'With over 100, 000 signatories to Make it Mandatory's petition and with cross-party support from parliamentarians, the Sex Education Forum calls on Government to close the gap in legislation by guaranteeing RSE to all students up to the age of 18 in further education.' Joining Ms Petron in delivering her petition were domestic abuse campaigner David Challen and Carole Gould, who lost her teenage daughter Ellie after she was stabbed by her 17-year-old ex-boyfriend. Having previously voiced support for the campaign, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: "Faustine and the team at Make it Mandatory are inspirational, and I have been honoured to be able to campaign alongside them and amplify their voices. 'The 16-19 group is an at-risk age group, and there is a black hole in RSE education for this group currently. The government should do much more to ensure that our young people are able to identify the early signs of abuse and seek the relevant support." Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said: 'Domestic abuse can affect people of any age, but younger generations are too often overlooked. With older teenagers experiencing shockingly high rates of abuse, mandatory RSE lessons could offer a lifeline for young survivors. 'The government has pledged to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade, but this cannot be achieved without improved education. Empowering young people to spot the signs of domestic abuse could help break the cycle before it begins, while also showing young survivors that support is out there. 'No matter your age, if you are experiencing domestic abuse, or are concerned about a loved one, know that you are not alone. Refuge's 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline is available on 0808 2000 247, and our confidential live chat is accessible online via A government spokesperson said: 'All abuse is abhorrent, and this government is determined to root it out as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade through our Plan for Change. 'As part of our review of the relationships, sex and health curriculum, the Education Secretary has been clear that she will ensure children are learning the skills they need to build positive, healthy relationships, right from primary school. 'More widely we are considering every option to fundamentally transform the system and address the issue of domestic abuse head on, and that includes everything from supporting victims to looking at whether we need to change the law.'
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
Greenisland: Man who abused partner jailed for 15 years
A man who physically, verbally and psychologically abused his partner over the course of six years has been jailed for 11 Oakes, 38, from Greenisland, County Antrim, will also spend a further four years on licence upon his release. Oakes, pleaded guilty to to a total of 43 offences which he committed over a period from 31 November 2014 to 19 December charges include multiple assaults, threats to kill and criminal damage. Warning: contains distressing content. On Friday, Belfast Crown Court heard how Oakes attacked his partner with an range of weapons including a hammer while she was pregnant. He also made threats to burn her alive, bury her in the garden and remove her teeth with a pair of court also heard that Oakes used coercive and controlling behaviour to assault, humiliate and degrade his partner, who has since been diagnosed with a complex post traumatic stress victim said she was slapped in the first assault in December also recalled how in 2015, Oakes kicked her front door in, strangled her and hit her head off a wall after she refused him entry to her flat. Court heard that in August 2018, Oakes assaulted his partner causing her to flee through a window. He had also twice previously tried to throw her through a window. In September that year, an assault left the victim with a perforated eardrum and in November she attended hospital after being kicked and punched by Oakes. Between March and April 2019, he put pliers in his partners mouth threatening to remove her teeth and dug a hole in her arm with a plastic potato peeler. 'Death for dishonour' Oakes wrote 'Death is dishonour' on the victim's kitchen wall in white the same day, he dragged her by the hair into the back garden by hair and threatened to bury her whilst digging a hole. The assaults continued in 2019, which included Oakes putting a cigarette out the victim's face and striking her with implements such as a fire poker and curtain also covered her in lighter fluid and said he was going to set her on August 2020, he attacked her with a hammer while she was pregnant. The prosecution revealed that Oakes would send the victim hammer victim was strangled and hit with a metal pole in September 2020 and she suffered a miscarriage in December 2020, he assaulted her a final time and slashed all four of her car's tyres. 'Torment suffered' Defence barrister said Oakes guilty pleas to the charges spared his victim having to "relive the incidents" in a also raised issues concerning Oakes' mental health, which was exacerbated by drug use and is now being addressed. He added that Oakes and the victim are no longer in Lynch said a 61-page statement written by the victim set out the "torment suffered by her during the relationship and the long-term consequences".A senior public prosecutor said: "I commend the bravery, fortitude and dignity of the victim who found the courage to speak out and to engage with police and the PPS to enable us to prosecute Oakes for his heinous and cowardly behaviour."I hope the conclusion of proceedings today brings a sense of closure for the victim and allows her to start to move forward with the life that she deserves."
