{"id":57707,"date":"2021-12-19T16:29:21","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T16:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=57707"},"modified":"2021-12-19T16:29:24","modified_gmt":"2021-12-19T16:29:24","slug":"itvs-ruth-dodsworth-keeps-up-the-important-discussion-on-coercive-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2021\/12\/19\/itvs-ruth-dodsworth-keeps-up-the-important-discussion-on-coercive-control\/","title":{"rendered":"ITV\u2019s Ruth Dodsworth keeps up the important discussion on coercive control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As domestic abuse cases rise over Christmas, Cardiff charities believe the presenter’s experience is valuable to many across the country<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A FRIENDLY face from the TV, Ruth Dodsworth has been using her platform to raise awareness on coercive control.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This interview comes as domestic abuse rises significantly during the Christmas holidays, as people tend to spend more time with their partners. Higher alcohol consumption and financial worries also contribute. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reports indicate that one in three women will experience abuse in their lifetime and, as difficult as it may be to hear, the conversation needs to continue.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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In October 2019, Ruth’s ex-husband was sentenced to three years in prison after subjecting her to a decade of domestic abuse and coercive control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ITV presenter said: \u201cI was just living completely on eggshells, living in fear, just waiting for the next phone call whilst trying to keep up the day job, keep up the facade and just living an exhausting double life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruth, 46, explains how hindsight made her realise that there were signs of coercive control from the beginning of the relationship, but it was difficult to see at the time, as this form of abuse builds up over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of coercive behaviour include an act or a pattern of acts of assault, intimidation, threats, or humiliation that is used to harm, frighten, or punish a person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hundreds of phone calls a day, to putting a tracker on her car – this is the type of behaviour she would be subjected to daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night before her ex-husband’s arrest, she received a phone call from her children warning her not to come home as they feared for her safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking for help saved my life. But it didn’t just save my life, it saved my children’s lives, it saved my family and it has given me my life back.”<\/p>Ruth Dodsworth <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

She said: \u201cI had gone to work as normal that Thursday morning, not really imagining what was going to unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn’t realise at the time, and it took a police officer when he was first arrested to say, well, actually, this is coercive controlling behaviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe whole thing was just a complete and massive shock. It was overwhelming and frightening. But it was the best thing I ever did because it changed my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think if I hadn’t told the police, I wouldn’t be here now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ruth, from Cowbridge, added: \u201cAsking for help saved my life. But it didn’t just save my life, it saved my children’s lives, it saved my family and it has given me my life back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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