BUCKHURST HILL: Domestic violence victim's anger as attacker walks free (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

BUCKHURST HILL: Domestic violence victim's anger as attacker walks free

2:29pm Thursday 10th December 2009 in

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A WOMAN who was brutally beaten by her ex-fiancé when she was six months pregnant has described the justice system as a joke after her attacker walked free from court.

Francesca Anderson, 39, was punched and strangled by her then partner Allan Blackford at their home in Palmerston Road, Buckhurst Hill, in an attack which left her with a broken nose and permanent hearing damage due to the ferocity of his blows.

But on Tuesday (December 8) Blackford walked free from Chelmsford Crown Court with a four month suspended prison sentence.

He had originally been charged with actual bodily harm, but was allowed to plead guilty to the lesser charge of common assault after police failed to get a victim impact statement from Ms Anderson, along with other court bungles, she claims.

The mum-of-two said: “This last year I've been through hell, and I feel completely and utterly let down by the system for the way I've been treated.

“It was domestic violence week recently but why should any girls come forward after the experience I've been through? All he got was a slap on the wrist. The whole thing's a joke.”

Ms Anderson had been in a relationship with Blackford, 29, for three years and was pregnant with his child.

But in November last year he subjected her to a terrifying assault at their house, in full view of Ms Anderson's 12-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

Ms Anderson praised the response of officers who arrived at the scene and arrested Blackford, but said she had suffered the stress of repeated court appearances and the failure of the justice system to put him behind bars.

She added: “Both me and my daughter have been traumatised by it all and we're still suffering now.

"I still get panic attacks and sometimes I get afraid to go outside.

"It's just been devastating.”

Blackford, of Shepperton Road, Islington, has been told his suspended sentence will last for two years.

Essex Police refused to comment.