MAN JAILED AFTER BEATING PARTNER OVER 16-YEAR REIGN OF ABUSE
A man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after inflicting severe physical and mental abuse on his partner of 22 years.Dean Martin Kelly, 39, from Wandsworth, was given the custodial sentence on Friday following his conviction at Kingston Crown Court.
The case was heard after a 12-day trial where Kelly was found guilty of numerous crimes.
He faced charges including causing grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, criminal damage, making threats to kill, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and engaging in controlling and coercive conduct.
The police response began when a 999 call was made at 8:49 pm on April 30, 2022, by the victim, who whispered plea for help before hanging up.
Authorities traced her location and went to her home in Wandsworth where she described her ordeal Kelly had physically and sexually assaulted her, and had threatened her with two knives, stabbing her legs.
She later called 999 again, during which Kelly threatened her life.
He also told their three children, aged from 10 to 21, to “say goodbye to your mum, I’m going to kill her.” The victim conveyed that the violence had intensified recently, making her terrified to contact police due to Kelly’s death threats.
Medical documentation, including approximately 100 photographs, recorded her extensive bruising across her body.
Kelly’s pattern of abuse was prolonged, involving sexual violence, beatings, and humiliating rituals.
His abusive acts included spitting, rubbing food into her hair (which she had prepared), and contaminating her and the children’s food with spit.
He used fists and weapons such as a belt and headphone wires to assault her.
In her testimony, the woman stated: ““I have suffered in silence for 22 years, silenced by my own fear and too afraid to speak up thinking there was no way out after years of abuse, but there was.
"The evening I called 999 undoubtedly saved my life.
Faced with two kitchen knives and being told I was going to be killed in front of our helpless children after I had been beaten and sexually assaulted that evening.
"From the vulnerable young age of 16 to 38 I have been a victim of domestic abuse and under the control of Dean’s cohesive, obsessive, possessive and controlling behaviour.
He was so manipulative and treated me as his possession.
“It was the only love I ever knew and accepted.
I knew it was wrong and that I deserved so much more but I was too scared and felt so ashamed.
I now know this was never love." Detective Inspector Simon Sherlock of South West Command’s Public Protection Unit commented: "Kelly took complete control of his victim’s life and rarely let her out.
His campaign of abuse has not only affected her but also greatly impacted her children.
"His behaviour was completely irredeemable and will not be tolerated.
I commend the victim-survivor for having the courage to come forward and encourage anyone in the same situation to seek help.
“My officers, PCs Lally Spoto and Tara Oram safeguarded and supported the victim-survivor and her family and importantly built a relationship with her to ensure the strongest possible evidence was presented to the court.
“If you have been a victim of domestic abuse, please report it, our officers will listen to you and what you say will be treated in confidence.”
