I can’t sleep over fear my abuser will be released early

At York Crown Court, Boyes pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour.

Helen, a student paramedic, said she then had “five or six months of peace” after he was jailed before she heard about plans for the early release of prisoners.

She had initially thought her abuser could be freed early in September 2027, but said she had now been informed it could be brought forward to March.

Helen described feeling “panic” when she was told.

“I genuinely didn’t sleep a wink that night because I was having heart palpitations and I couldn’t breathe,” she said.

“How dare they release these violent individuals? How do you, as a government, have the right to overrule a judge?

“That’s my question and no one has been able to answer that.”

Nicole Jacobs, domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, told the BBC she felt the government had “got it wrong on this” and victims had not been considered.

“No one should be released unless the kind of risk assessment and planning that includes input from victims is done,” she said.

“That’s not happening and that is not right or just for victims of domestic abuse.”

Helen told the BBC she feared the consequences for all victims of domestic abusers being released early.

“Stop it now before there’s a death on your hands, because there absolutely will be, whether that be me or somebody else,” she warned.

In a statement, the MoJ said it recognised the “profound and lasting impact of domestic abuse”.

It added: “We are also providing a record £550m of funding for victim services including a victims’ helpline, specialist domestic abuse support, and rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to further strengthen protections for victims.”