I posted some photos on Facebook in July and was arrested and charged. On Monday I go to court.
The backstory to all of this is that I was with my partner for 22 years and we have been married for 16 years. He was not always good to me but he was the only boyfriend I’ve ever had and so he was ‘normal’ to me, and all I ever knew.
He was abusive from the start, but back in 1999, early 2000’s people seemed to only think of abuse as physical - myself included. And - at that time - he wasn’t really. He threatened to hit me and told me once to ‘face the wall before I slap you!’
Looking back now I can see that he was sexually coercive and abusive, verbally abusive (calling me stupid, saying I was a loser and that people would be happy when I die etc) He lied constantly and was always approaching other women. He became physically abusive - giving me a black eye a few times, backhanding me across the face. The worst was one night when I returned from dinner with a friend. I mentioned to him that I thought it was sweet that my friends partner had come into the restaurant to see if she would get a taxi home. He took this as a slight against him, dragged me from the sofa and kicked me all over. The pain was horrific and he broke my ribs with one of the kicks. The next day I was covered in bruises and had to go to hospital.
I didn’t know where to go. He told me once that he’d take our boys away from me and I’d get nothing if I divorced him (he’s very wealthy) I wasn’t working. He was setting up a successful business and buying property.
I left him several times - last year for good. There’s so much more he has done that I can’t go into but I feel broken. I used alcohol to numb myself (very bad idea)
Last year he opened up a shop/coffee shop in our area and people were posting what a great place it was and what a great person he is. I’d had some wine and was remembering all the things he’d done to me over the years. I saw red and posted photos of my injuries from one beating he gave me to the page - a local community page with over 7000 members. In that moment I wanted to ruin him like he’d ruined me. I didn’t think the admins would approve it - they tend to check all posts. But the post went through.
The next week I was arrested for ‘domestic stalking’ The police had seen the images of posted and said they were ‘horrific’ and that I should report my husband for what he’d done. A few weeks later I did. My husband was questioned but he replied ‘no comment’ to every question and walked free.
I’m so worried about this now and just wonder what the court will decide. Does anyone have any idea? Again - I know I screwed up and I wish I hadn’t done it. I’ve been sober for 2 months and have a nurse now.