Coercive control Survivor tells how baby gave her strength for justice

ONE of the seven women who reported their abusive relationships with violent and coercive Joshua Kelly has told how he even attacked her at the graveside of their baby daughter.

- Tristan CORK

Charlotte Lewis said the attack, which came after he threatened to steal the tot's ashes and then burn her grave, was a turning point which gave her the strength to make sure Kelly faced justice.

As previously reported by the Post, Kelly, 23, was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour towards all seven women, who are aged between 20 and 24. It is believed to be the most victims in a case of its kind since new laws against abusive and controlling relationships were introduced.

Charlotte, from Bristol, described the last four years as "constant torture" but said she felt overwhelming relief when he was finally jailed for four years.

She was the first to report his controlling behaviour, threats and attacks to police, before she finally managed to break away from him with a court order back in the summer of 2023.

After that, he went on to be involved in a series of more abusive relationships, and eventually, after he was arrested in February this year, seven women gave evidence to police about his abuse.

Charlotte's victim impact statement ran to six pages, and it took her 15 minutes to read it out in full.

Charlotte first reported Kelly to the police in February 2022 but he was only given a caution. She managed to end their relationship, but then discovered she was pregnant with her daughter Lottie.

Tragically, Lottie was diagnosed with serious health conditions in the womb and even before she was born, Charlotte was told to prepare for the fact that Lottie would not survive for long. She passed away, and on the eve of the six month mark since her passing, she found herself at her graveside with Kelly.