I Own You
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www.nspcc.org.uk
Woman’s Aid: Woman’s Aid provides life-saving services and helps to provide refuge for women and children suffering domestic abuse.
You can call their national, 24-hour freephone helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit their website for guidance and support: www.womansaid.org.uk
Refuge: For help and advice, and to find out the warning signs of abuse and control, visit www.refuge.org.uk
The Samaritans: Available 24 hours a day to provide confidential emotional support for those who are experiencing feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts.
Call 0845 7909 090 or visit www.samaritans.org.uk
Rape Crisis: Specialist services for women and girls who have been raped and/or experienced any other form of sexual violence at any time.
For England and Wales, visit www.rapecrisis.org.uk
For Scotland, call 08088 01 03 02 or visit
www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Shelter: call 0808 800 4444 or visit www.shelter.org.uk
Victim support: call 0808 168 9111 or visit www.victimsupport.org.uk
Crimestoppers: call 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org
To the outside world, Dawn was a successful businesswoman. No one knew that every waking minute of her day was controlled by her husband Stuart. She had been subjected to years of coercion – belittled, threatened and hit. He told her that she belonged to him, that he would do horrific things to her if she left.
Dawn met Stuart when she was fourteen. She had already been abused by her older brother and was all too easily groomed by this local businessman who seemed to love her. Pregnant at sixteen, rejected by her parents, she ended up marrying him. And then it started, the long campaign to break her. She was forced to work all hours for Stuart, making money for him to spend. Then one day Dawn found the strength to fight back – against the brother who abused her, and the husband who made her life hell. To have her freedom and get revenge on Stuart she would risk losing everything . . .
Powerful and inspiring, I Own You is the true story of a woman determined to find happiness on her own terms.
First published 2017 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2017 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-5098-3089-3
Copyright © Dawn McConnell 2017
Cover image posed by a model © Yolande de Kort/Trevillion Images
The rights of Dawn McConnell and Katy Weitz to be identified as the authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.
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