'I thought I was about to die'

Abi Blake suffered a permanently damaged spinal cord, punctured lung and cracked ribs during a vicious assault at her home in Knutsford whilst the couple’s one-year-old baby son slept in his crib.

Telecoms manager Sebastian Swamy, 40, kicked her to the ground in a booze-fuelled rage after she quizzed him about a 10-hour drinking binge.

He repeatedly stamped on her after punching her in the neck.

“He just gave an almighty stamp on my chest,” said Abi, 42. “The pain was so intense I thought he’d broken my heart.”

As the mum-of-two lay seriously injured, Swamy snatched her mobile phones to prevent her calling the police and locked himself in a bedroom.

“I thought I was about to die,” said Abi, who also has a 10-year-old son. “I just remember a massive surge of adrenalin and pain and knew I needed to get help.”

She dragged herself outside and begged a couple walking by to call an ambulance.

A neuro surgeon had to make an incision in her neck to carry out emergency surgery on damaged vertebrae.

Abi had to undergo emergency surgery

“I was petrified,” said Abi, who still faces further spinal operations. “I didn’t know if I was going to end up paralysed.”

Swamy admitted causing grievous bodily harm in the attack on July 27, 2017, claiming he had been drinking heavily after losing £100,000 in a scam.

Abi has been left with a scar on her neck

He was jailed for three years and four months at Chester Crown Court in January 2019 but was released six months later in July due to an error in his sentencing.

Abi only found out by chance that Swamy was free to leave prison on an unaccompanied travel warrant.

“I live in fear that at any time he could come back to hurt me or the children,” said Abi.

“I was advised to stay away from my home, taking the children with me and only return when the police had received confirmation that his electronic tag had been fitted,” she said.

Abi has met Dame Vera Baird, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, and won her backing for more protection for victims of domestic violence.

“She has assured me that changes must be made to support, inform and protect victims more,” she said. “A catalogue of errors occurred in my case.

Abi fears many people don't realise they are being abused because perpetrators often use coercive, controlling behaviour to prey on their victims

“Five women every week die as a result of domestic abuse. He left me on the floor to die, discarded like a hunted animal.

“I am passionate about helping people because of the way I have been treated.”

Abi fears many people don’t realise they are being abused because perpetrators often use coercive, controlling behaviour to prey on their victims.

After completing a course to improve her own self esteem and confidence, Abi has teamed up with Cheshire Without Abuse (CWA) to run a monthly domestic abuse clinic at Knutsford Community Centre starting from 10am to 12 noon on September 27.

“Trained professionals who can recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse will offer advice and support,” said Abi, who was with her ex-partner for three years. “I will be there to listen and help.

“We will be giving beautiful toiletry bags and hampers to all the survivors who come so they can pamper themselves and feel humanised again.

Abi is opening a domestic abuse clinic in Knutsford to help other victims of violence in the home

“I really do enjoy helping others.

“I’m determined to fight for my two children. They are the sole reason I keep going every day.

“Their love, laughter and warmth make every day worthwhile.”

Abi has spoken about the long term impact the devastating attack has had on her family’s life as she has been left physically disabled and mentally scarred.

As her ex-partner Sebastian Swamy, 40, was being sentenced, she told Chester Crown Court: “It took months before I was able to walk, brush my teeth, swallow, bathe and care for my toddler. I’m unable to carry a milk carton home without having to stop crying in pain.

Abi has no feeling in her throat

“I have no feeling at all in my throat. I have burning sensations in my shoulder blades, feet and legs.

“My legs, hands and arms shake and tremor all the time as though I have Parkinson’s. I have no feeling in my fingertips. Worse of all I’m unable to button up my little boys’ coats and shirts.”

Before the attack, Abi was very active, running, cycling and attending aerobics classes.

Two years on, her own life and that of her sons, now aged three and 10, have been changed forever.

“I can’t do anything with the children,” she said. “My little boys love rollercoasters, now I can’t even give them a piggyback in case something jolts my neck.

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“I am waiting for another spinal operation on my neck. My neurosurgeon doesn’t want to do it because it is such high risk so for now I am having cortisone injections at the side of my throat every six months.”

Abi had to give up her job as an operations manager at Manchester Airport and now survives on benefits.

“It was a jet-setting, high-flying career,” she said. “I loved it and was very proud of it. I had everything going for me.

“Now I’m unable to write or hold a pen.

“I was assessed by Universal Credit and signed off indefinitely from work through disability.

“It is really difficult. I worry constantly about money.

“I want to share my story because there has to be an open discussion on domestic abuse. Society needs to be educated.

“No one needs to feel ashamed speaking about it.”