As she was shoved into a taxi following a six-hour attack by her ex-partner, she whispered five words to the driver fearing for her life.
Daniel Little left mum-of-two Rosie Frankish, 26, from Warrington, terrified after forcing his way into her home and launching the vile attack. He dragged her into a taxi - she was wearing her just pyjamas and was covered with dog faeces and urine.
But quick-thinking Rosie managed to secretly alert the taxi driver as Little briefly got out of the cab – and she was driven to safety.
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Little, 34, was jailed at Liverpool Crown Court last week after admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm and false imprisonment. He was jailed for three years and seven months.
"I thought he was going to kill me that night. I had bruises for months afterwards," Rosie said.
"The taxi ride lasted only around 10 minutes, but it felt like forever. My mind was racing with possibilities, I thought about throwing myself out onto the road, or screaming out of the windows for help.
"When Daniel got out, I remained in the taxi and without moving my face at all, I said to the driver 'Just drive. Just go. Now.'
“As he drove off, Daniel was grabbing the door, trying to get back in. I only just got away. I want every woman out there to see his face and know what he is capable of.”
The couple met seven and a half years ago, in Warrington.
Rosie said: “I was pregnant and had split with the baby’s father. Daniel was eight years older and seemed to offer friendship and security. He paid me lots of compliments, he was lovely, very jokey and confident.
"When the baby came, he was really supportive and loving."
The couple moved in together and the following year, they had a child together. But during the pregnancy, Daniel changed.
Rosie said: “I was three months pregnant when he grabbed my hair in an argument.”
Rosie was determined to make their relationship work, for the sake of their two children. But Daniel became increasingly controlling and violent.
She said: “When we went out, I had to have my eyes down, at the pram, so I couldn’t look at other men. When I was home, I had to hand him my phone and keys. He alienated me from all my friends and family.”
In 2020, Rosie ended the relationship. Two years on, he made contact, asking to see the children.
Rosie said: "I felt very torn. I didn’t want to deprive my children of their father, but I was wary of him. Daniel insisted he had changed, telling me he had a job and he had calmed down.
"I agreed to days out, with the children, and it went well at first.”
But she noticed he was again becoming increasingly possessive and controlling and decided to take a step back.
She said: “I told him he could still see the children, but someone else would be present to supervise, and not me.”
Daniel did not take the news well and he spiralled over a period of days, eventually ending up under arrest for attacking a stranger. When he was released, in December last year, he went immediately to where Rosie and her children were living.
She said: “I was woken about 11.30pm by a loud banging. I went down to open the back door and he barged in from the garden.
“He was telling me it was all my fault, that I taken away his family, and I would have to pay for it. I knew the attack was coming. His eyes were completely dead. I had no way of getting through to him.”
Little pinned her against the fridge freezer by her throat before throwing her against the kitchen units. The attack continued upstairs, and into the bedroom, where he punched, kicked and slapped her repeatedly.
Rosie said: “He kept telling me I needed to learn my lesson. Every now and again he stopped hitting me and made me hug him, and he’d say ‘I pinkie promise I won’t hit you again’ - then he’d start hitting me, like it was all part of some sick game. It was torture.
"He ran himself a bath but made me sit on the toilet so he could keep an eye on me. I thought about making a run for it, but I was worried he’d catch me.
"He picked up a full bottle of hair conditioner and tipped it all over my head, into my eyes, and then threw the bottle at me and laughed.
"The dog came upstairs, he was very frightened, he hadn’t been out for a poo because I wasn’t allowed to take him, and he pooed on the tiles. Daniel smeared the faeces right into my face, grinding it into my cheeks and my hair with a towel.
"I was so upset and frightened that I wet myself and he wouldn’t let me get changed. I thought he was going to kill me.”
Rosie saw her chance of escape when, almost six hours later, Daniel announced he wanted to return to his home to get some clothes.
She says: “I called him a taxi and I thought I might be able to persuade him to leave. But he booted me hard and forced me into the taxi with him.
"All through the journey, I was wondering about throwing myself out onto the road. I wanted to tell the taxi driver but wasn’t sure if he’d help me.”
When the taxi stopped, Little got out for a cigarette and Rosie seized her chance.
She says: “I knew Daniel was looking at me, expecting me to get out after him, so I said very quietly, without moving my face 'Please drive. Just go. Now.'
"The cab driver said 'Where do you want me to go?' and I saw Daniel’s hand reach for the door handle. It was like it happened in slow motion.
“I yelled, and the driver just put his foot down and we were off. I couldn’t believe it was over. He took me to the police station, and I got help.”
Rosie was taken to hospital with severe cuts and bruises, including a black eye, reduced hearing in her left ear, a 10cm bruise over her shoulder to elbow, a 5cm bruise over her chest, and swelling to her head and scalp.
Officers arrested Little shortly after. Little appeared before Liverpool Crown Court last week and admitted assaults and false imprisonment.
In her impact statement, Rosie told the court: “Psychologically this has affected me. I cannot sleep properly. I feel like I cannot talk to anyone but my family. I feel vulnerable as a result.
“When I close my eyes, I can see his face from that night. I used to love being on my own but now I cannot do that.”
In mitigation, the court heard how Little is "deeply ashamed" of his behaviour.
His barrister said: “He accepts that he needs to be in prison. He knows he must be punished.”
Little has a lengthy record of 17 previous convictions for 34 offences, including for violence. Concluding, recorder Michael Blakey described the attack as a "prolonged and persistent assault".
He said: “There is serious psychological harm. You humiliated that lady."
Little was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison, of which he will serve half of before being released on licence.
Rosie said: “I think his sentence should have been much longer. He could have killed me that night and perhaps he would have, if it wasn’t for the taxi ride. I feel deeply traumatised by what he did.
“It was Daniel’s aim to ruin me but that won’t happen. I won’t let him win. I’m building a new life for me and my children, and our love is far stronger than his hatred.”
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