A woman describes how her ex-partner brutally assaulted her after she stopped him driving home from a night of drinking.
Jodie Taylor from Liverpool, 26 years old, had been with Kyle Brook intermittently since she was 16.
She suffered brain bleeding and skull fractures in the violent attack of March 2020. Brook, 26 was not allowed to drive home. Brook offered her to pay for a taxi.
Brook was sentenced last week by Liverpool Crown Court, after being convicted of assault occasioning grievous body harm, assault occasioning bodily injury and criminal damage.
Another attack saw him squeeze Jodie until Jodie feared she’d pass out. After that, he refused to let Jodie take off her pajamas.
For three years, he was in prison.
Jodie (26), a recruiter, was attacked in her bed by Brook. Brook squeezed her neck so hard that she thought she might pass out. Jodie was then forced to remove her pajamas.
For six days, she was in the hospital. A scan revealed she had suffered a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull as well as a 2cm laceration to her head and a perforated eardrum
Jodie, 26 years old, works as a recruitment specialist. She said that while she had always believed that Kyle would change, the last attack could have claimed her life. The effects of the brainbleed will affect me for the rest my life.
“When you’re in an abusive relationship you don’t realize it’s toxic.” It is a shame that I allowed it to continue for so many years.
“I am blessed with good friends, family and a job that I love. Yet Kyle was my blind spot. Many years ago, I believed that I was responsible for Kyle’s temper.
“In court, I felt responsible. It was Kyle’s fault.
Kyle Brook, 26, was sentenced to three years in prison last week at Liverpool Crown Court after being convicted by a jury of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage
I don’t believe defence lawyers should have to victim-shame. We need people to tell us about domestic violence if we are to encourage them to do so.
Jodie and Kyle Brook met aged 16.
Jodie said: “He was my first boyfriend, and I loved him.” He showed signs of jealousy. A shared Facebook page was what he wanted.
“Then, he became more aggressive. At the age of 19, we separated but kept in touch.”
They had an ongoing relationship over the following six years.
Jodie said: “Sometimes he would call at 3AM and confess undying love to me, while other times he could be very abusive.
“I felt sorry and forgave him. I believed I could help.
Kyle and Jodie stayed with each other in August 2018. He became drunk and asked her to take off her pajamas before he began questioning her on her former partner.
After she refused to get out of her pyjamas he put her in a headlock, squeezed her throat and tied her fingers.
Jodie states: “He was pinching my throat. I was desperately trying to free him from his grip. I thought that I was about to go insane. It was extremely frightening.
Jodie suffered injuries to the inside from her ex partner’s brutal attack (left). The attack left Jodie with a perforated inner eardrum and she was admitted to hospital for six consecutive days.
Brook met Brook at 16 years old, and they had an ongoing relationship for six years.
Brook was quick to send her messages, telling her that she would not reveal what happened.
Jodie said: “By now my confidence was shaken. It was my mistake to think that it was all mine. “I wasn’t with Kyle. But I couldn’t get on with another partner.
Jodie met Kyle while out on a night in March 2020. She tried to stop Kyle from driving after he became blind drunk.
Jodie was injured to the face by an ex-boyfriend who attacked her when she tried convincing him to take a taxi back to his house after drinking.
She said that she offered to pay Kyle’s taxi ride home as she didn’t want Kyle to drive drunk. To stop him, I ran towards his car and he attacked me.
Jodie lost consciousness, and horrified passers-by called the police. She was discovered bleeding from her ears. The keys were in Kyle’s van.
An MRI revealed that she suffered from a brain bleed and had a broken skull. She also sustained a 2cm cut to her head, and an eardrum perforation. The hospital kept her there for six more days.
Jodie lost consciousness, and horrified passersby called 911 to report that she had bleeding profusely from her ear.
Jodie, who has had to undergo two years of appointments to treat her tinnitus has also been treated with steroid injections in her cheek to lessen swelling.
Hayley Bennett, who was defending her client in Liverpool Crown Court, stated that he going to prison would have a devastating impact on the innocent people around him. This includes his family and employees, but also his customers. His business will need to shut down.
Brook was also sent to prison for another incident of criminal damage that took place at a hotel.
Judge Louise Brandon stated before sentencing that she had seen you testify during the trial, where you attempted to minimize what you did and place blame on your victim.
“I would like to inform your victim that you are innocent. You are the only one to be held responsible for your actions.
“Intimate circumstances are where you can lose control, and you’re dangerous, in my opinion.”
Jodie stated in court that victims of domestic violence shouldn’t feel guilty about coming to court.
“The offenses are serious enough that immediate custody is the appropriate punishment.”
Brook was sentenced at the age of 33 to three years imprisonment.
Jodie states that the defense mentions a “devastating affect on innocent people” which made it feel like Kyle would be hurt. It is wrong to make domestic violence victims feel guilty that they came to court.
‘We need to encourage more women – and men – to come forward. It’s possible for domestic violence to happen to anybody, from any background, so it is important to offer help and support.