Domestic abuse survivor opens up on ordeal to encourage others to seek support

Sophie Eyers suffered a reign of terror at the hands of Samuel James (30) before he was jailed in July 2019.

He subjected her to physical, emotional and financial abuse throughout the course of their relationship and left her believing she would be killed.

On World Voice Day, Sophie has released a film about her experience to emphasise survivors of domestic abuse will be heard and listened to in Cambridgeshire.

Not only does the film highlight Sophie’s heart-breaking personal experience but also the support available to those who speak out.

Last year, there were 14,670 reported incidents of domestic abuse in Cambridgeshire, a four per cent increase on the year before.

Speaking in the film, Sophie recalled the horrific physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of James during their six month relationship which began at a time when her life was “really chaotic and I had no sense of stability. I’d lost everything that made my life, my life. So he seemed like my stability”.

Sophie said: “While I was with Sam he slapped me, he punched me, he stamped on me repeatedly. He spat on me, he spat in my face. He put my arms under my body and sat on top of me so I couldn’t defend myself and punched me, all in my rib cage and in my belly and in my ears. That really hurt.

“He strangled me once to the point that I passed out.

“He threatened me with a knife, threatened me with scissors, threatened me with a meat cleaver.

“He threatened to shoot me in the Fens. He threatened to break my nan’s legs. He reigned terror on me for months.

“I felt like no one could defeat him. I felt like he was bigger than everybody else and he would outsmart everyone else because he would tell me all the time I was stupid and I was dumb and I was thick.