‘It left me afraid for my life'

A domestic abuse survivor tells Maya Oppenheim how her new address ended up in her ex’s hands in a data breach

- Maya Oppenheim

A domestic abuse victim said she was left fearing for her life after a company that obtains restraining orders accidentally disclosed her home address to her ex-partner.

Speaking to The Independent, Lola* said the data breach happened when she was applying for a non-molestation order through the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) several years ago.

Lola said the centre served her abusive ex-partner the restraining order in person, accidentally handing him a piece of paper containing her address – despite repeated pleas for her address not to be shared with him.

“They did not apologise for doing this for over a year,” the 35year-old said. “They wouldn’t accept responsibility and they said it was my fault or tried to cast blame on others. They treated me appallingly.”

Lola’s story comes as The Independent continues its Brick by Brick campaign, in partnership with the leading domestic abuse charity Refuge, to raise funds to build two houses for women escaping abusive partners. The initial £300,000 target has recently been reached thanks to generous donations from readers, with more than £500,000 of donations pouring in so far and plans already underway for the building of a second home.

Non-molestation orders, which can last up to a lifetime and are issued through the civil courts, often restrict where abusers can go or whom they can approach, and can be used to prevent a partner or ex-partner from using or threatening violence against a victim or their child.