Wirral woman jailed after admitting domestic assault
Karen Palmer's sentence relates to a catalogue of domestic crimes against her husband which took place over 20 years.
A Wirral woman has been jailed after pleading guilty to domestic offences against her husband.
Karen Palmer, of Centurion Drive in Meols appeared at Liverpool Crown Court and was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. She was also issued with a 10-year restraining order against the victim.
The sentence relates to a catalogue of domestic crimes against her husband which took place over 20 years.
The victim reported the physical, mental and emotional abuse to police following an incident in March this year.
The court heard that at around 7.45am on 31 March, the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) attended to a patient on Dove Point Road in Meols. The man was found bleeding heavily from multiple injuries as he walked towards the promenade with the intention of washing the blood off in the sea. However, paramedics found him with a deep laceration to his forearm which was close to a major artery, along with further cuts to his arms, hand, forehead and head. He also has multiple scars to arms, chest, back and legs.
Palmer, 47, was subsequently arrested for the knife assault and last month she pleaded guilty to the charge of Section 18 wounding.
At earlier hearings the court was told that Palmer had subjected her partner to daily abuse and violence, controlled their finances and prevented him from contacting his family and friends by monitoring his mobile phone use.
Her husband composed a 15-page victim impact statement which was read out in court
Here is just a small insight into what he went through: “There is a part of me that will never recover from this. I have many wounds to serve as daily reminders, some I can hide, many I cannot. I will for the rest of my life have to see those physical scars every day, always reminding me of what happened and how I felt close to death. I am forever a broken person.
“I am not able to sleep, instead as bedtime approaches fear and panic grips me. I have the light on and have music playing. It feels strange sleeping in the bed rather than the floor. I lie awake my mind racing and my body aching.
“Right now, my life is an absolute wreck. I am physically, mentally and emotionally spent. You have drained the last drop of anything I had in me. I have for many years been living on a few hours sleep a night, and all for what, so you could feel in control. So you could watch me in constant pain, constant fear, constant panic. I would say that you scared me, you would laugh and say good.
“Physically my body is covered in scars from all the times you have cut or stabbed me. The injuries from the latest attack have left me with constant headaches, dizziness and partial loss of my hand. Every time I touch my head, I can feel the grooves caused by the many knife blows I’ve sustained. I will not wear T-shirts anymore as I’m ashamed with the many scars covering my arms. My right thigh has never worked properly since you plunged a knife into it.
“Your actions were callous, calculating and controlling. The vicious way in which I was attacked with whatever object came to hand shows that you really wanted to see me in pain and fear.
“The attacks escalated, but this year it was daily, and often multiple times a day, both verbally and physically. I remember bending down to pick something up and for no reason you kicked me square in the face. This was daily life. I felt relief when you would eventually go to sleep after I had massaged you every night because it would stop for a few hours. Often as we woke it would start, verbal first but usually violence soon after. I would feel it was a good day if I only got hit, a bad day would be slashed or stabbed.
“I would like to thank everybody who has helped me, medics at the hospital, police and the victim support services offered to me. The care, compassion and help you have given me has been invaluable and very surprising to me because I was conditioned to not accept or know these things.
“Just a simple ‘how are you’ was a compete revelation to me. The level of professionalism and empathy showed by all involved, particularly DC Lynsey Phillips and Abbie from victim support has been a real help during this unbelievably difficult time.”
Detective Constable Lynsey Phillips said: “Palmer subjected to her husband to sadistic violence and abuse every day. On the outside they lived in a lovely house in Wirral and had a good life and income, but sadly behind closed doors it was a different story where he was subjected to mental, emotional and physical abuse.
“The wounds inflicted upon him over the years were catastrophic – the victim was subjected to violence almost every day for things as petty as not folding towels the way she wanted it. She wouldn’t allow him to get medical help for the slash wounds she caused, so he became very good at tending to them using glue and cling film around the house.
“Thankfully the victim sought medical help for the latest injuries she inflicted which led to him reporting the abuse he suffered over a 20-year period which has left him traumatised.
“She also controlled what they ate by eating one meal a day. In the aftermath, he walked past a chip shop and smelt the chips so bought fish and chips for the first time in 20 years.
“It has been heartbreaking to hear the abuse he suffered at her hands, and he has shown immense bravery and courage, and found his voice, to support this prosecution while supported throughout the investigation by our team. I hope he will in time move forward to a brighter future.
“Palmer is now paying for her crime and in prison where she is unable to inflict further harm on him.”
Detective Inspector Holly Chance added: “We recognise the profound impact that such abhorrent behaviour has on victims of domestic abuse, and thankfully Palmer pleaded guilty.
“I would like to emphasise that there is help available to anyone who may be suffering domestic abuse of any kind and together with partner agencies, we will do all that we can to support you.
“Domestic abuse comes in many forms, it isn’t just physical – it can be emotional, sexual, financial or controlling behaviour and it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender. We have specially trained officers who will listen to you and support you with sensitivity and compassion.
“I would also ask everyone to look out for your family members, friends or neighbours that may be suffering, as by contacting us you could be helping someone who is too afraid to help themselves. Everything you tell us is taken extremely seriously and will be investigated thoroughly.”
In Merseyside, specialist help is available for male victims of domestic abuse through The Paul Lavelle Foundation.