A domestic abuse survivor who lived a life of hell with her violent ex-husband for years has hit out at his "appalling sentence".
Mark Donnelly avoided a custodial sentence after being found guilty of assaulting Nicola Thompson in East Kilbride on various occasions between January 2016 and January 2020.
The 37-year-old dodged a prison sentence from Hamilton Sheriff Court as Sheriff John Speir instead placed him under supervision for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 250 hours of unpaid community work.
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Nicola has bravely spoken out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her "monster" ex-husband who left her fearing for her life, the Record reports.
Blasting the sentence, Nicola, 36, said: “I was subjected to a week-long trial, having to divulge the most horrendous times in my life. I left the court feeling like my life meant nothing, he walked away whilst I had suffered far more than he ever will for his crimes.
“Then to be told this is more than what a lot of victims get is appalling. In my opinion he should be in prison to have time to think about his actions and the pain he has caused.”
The court heard that the violence included pinning Nicola against walls, slapping her, grabbing her by the neck, pushing and pulling her, seizing her wrists and pushing his head against hers.
He was also convicted of threatening or abusive behaviour towards his ex-wife between January 2016 and November 2019. This included shouting and swearing, punching holes in walls and a door and breaking picture frames.
Speaking out in a bid to encourage more victims of domestic abuse to come forward, Nicola revealed she still lives in fear.
“I portray myself to be an outgoing, confident individual to the outside world, but I simply am not”, she said. “I spend days in tears coming to terms with what has happened to me.
“This will haunt me forever and has turned me into an extremely stressed and anxious individual. I fear leaving my own home in case I were to meet him in public.”
Describing Donnelly as controlling, Nicola said that during what she called “frenzied attacks”, she told us she would sustain painful injuries at the hands of the man who was supposed to love and protect her from harm.
She said: “To this day I will do things the way he liked out of habit and fear of the consequences of doing it wrong.”
Nicola revealed that the abuse has left her suffering from nightmares in which she would experience flashbacks of the attacks.
“He has stolen time from me, time to be happy and loved, time which I will never get back”, she said. “I am deeply distraught that a person, who was supposed to love me, treated me as if I were nothing and had no regard for my safety or wellbeing.
“I don’t think I will ever heal from the trauma I endured at the hands of this man.”
Donnelly pleaded his innocence and never took accountability for his actions in court, forcing his ex-wife to go through the trauma of a week-long trial.
Urging women in a similar situation to leave an abusive home and seek help, Nicola added: “Even though this whole experience has been very traumatic I would still encourage anyone going through domestic violence to seek help, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“I have managed to find love with a man who treats me with the utmost respect and I am finally feel free to live my life.
“I have recently been in touch with my local MP, and we are in discussion about what more can be done to support victims - something which I feel strongly about and want to raise awareness of.”
A non-harassment order has been issued on Donnelly, of Riverside Road, Galston, banning him from any contact with Nicola for five years.
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