Domestic

UserName01_2

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

You should have done that ages ago.

Yes, I agree. I have been thinking about it for a while but have gave her more than enough chances and now that I have a lot to complain about regarding the way she has dealt with this case I thought now was the best time to write the complaint.

UserName01_2

Today was the day and now its all over. He was found guilty! But he's been let off lightly. Our justice system is a joke and so was his solicitor!

sassyblue

UserName01 wrote: »

Today was the day and now its all over. He was found guilty! But he's been let off lightly. Our justice system is a joke and so was his solicitor!

do you think he would do anything to you again though? If not you'd hope he'd learned his lesson...

(((HUGS))). Did you get a reply about your complaint? And how is your vision?

UserName01_2

sassyblue wrote: »

do you think he would do anything to you again though? If not you'd hope he'd learned his lesson...

(((HUGS))). Did you get a reply about your complaint? And how is your vision?

The Sargent came to visit me a week ago Re the complaint I made. He is the boss of the police officer in charge of my case and agreed I had very poor service. He had to collect further evidence himself as the officer failed to return my calls. Feel a bit awful as she was there with me today in the witness room and she is really lovely.

Special measures was granted and I gave evidence via video link, there is no way I could have walked into that court room where his family were and stood up to him. Even a screen wouldn't of helped me. His solicitor gave me a really hard time. Had I been in that court room I would have walked out, even with a screen up. The judge had to stop him as he was being too hard on me and trying to make me out as a liar. He lied to me and said my ex lives in the street where the incident happened. I said no he doesn't he lives at the street known by police but he disagreed again and asked if it was a coincidence how I drove past his house when he doesn't even live there! One minute he was no where near me the the next he was accusing me of following him. So if I was following him how did he manage to block me in a Cul de sac I asked. He had no further questions.

Another thing the solicitor had all the Christmas, birthday and valentines cards I have sent him in 2010 and 2011 before the incident. He was claiming they were sent in 2012, its not his birthday for another 6 months (sept). The incident happened oct 2012 and I hadnt spoke to him since the end of 2011 early 2012. No idea what that has to do with the assault though!

Absolute joker he was!

My vision is still the same if not worse and have to wear glasses. Very disappointed the compensation is only £150 (he also has court costs and fine to pay). It won't even cover the cost of glasses and an induction. Would have preferred no compensation and just an injunction.

sassyblue

UserName01 wrote: »

His solicitor gave me a really hard time. Had I been in that court room I would have walked out, even with a screen up. The judge had to stop him as he was being too hard on me and trying to make me out as a liar. He lied to me and said my ex lives in the street where the incident happened. I said no he doesn't he lives at the street known by police but he disagreed again and asked if it was a coincidence how I drove past his house when he doesn't even live there! One minute he was no where near me the the next he was accusing me of following him. So if I was following him how did he manage to block me in a Cul de sac I asked. He had no further questions.

But...... that's his job to try and trip you up, l daresay your solicitor gave your ex a hard time too? Don't waste time on feeling annoyed about him as your ex was found GUILTY, so clearly the judge and jury believed YOU and ex's solicitors efforts were wasted.

Don't feel guilty about the police officer either, she had a duty of care towards you and let you down, she was probably lovely yesterday BECAUSE you complained and she knew she'd better be on the ball.

Sorry to hear your vision is no better, what a b*stard.

UserName01_2

sassyblue wrote: »

But...... that's his job to try and trip you up, l daresay your solicitor gave your ex a hard time too? Don't waste time on feeling annoyed about him as your ex was found GUILTY, so clearly the judge and jury believed YOU and ex's solicitors efforts were wasted.

Don't feel guilty about the police officer either, she had a duty of care towards you and let you down, she was probably lovely yesterday BECAUSE you complained and she knew she'd better be on the ball.

Sorry to hear your vision is no better, what a b*stard.

I was only allowed to listen to the case when I gave my evidence via video link. After the questions were asked the video link was switched off. If I had stood up to him in the court room then I would have been able to sit in the public gallery to hear the rest of the case.

My family came up to the witness room after I gave my evidence to make sure I was okay and the witness service advised me to leave court so we weren't leaving the same time as him. The case went on all day as it got adjourned for dinner but I was home by then and the witness service kept me up to date by phone calls.

I believe the prosecution was a bit sneaky. He somehow knew the questions I would be asked by the defendants solicitor but didn't tell me.
All he did say was 'have you sent cards as that is one of the questions you are going to be asked'. I thought he meant since the incident so I said no as I have had no contact with him for a year now. He solicitor said one was sent in 2012. They were sent in 2010 and 2011 during the relationship. I know he was just trying to find holes in my evidence but I found it a bit odd why the cards were mentioned, clearly nothing on me. No texts no phone calls, emails nothing. So they had to come up with the birthday cards. Very strange how he still has them off over a year ago and apparently has a new girlfriend according to the solicitor.

The defendant and his solicitor were allowed a copy of my statement so have had 5 months to try come up with these poor lies. I haven't seen anything on the defendants side. Not even the questions he was asked in the police interview. I know I was allowed to see this information as the police have offered, even yesterday before i gave my evidence but each time didn't have the information with them.

aileth

Defence and Prosecution barristers/solicitors are officers of the court and have a duty of full disclosure to each other so everyone is playing off the same ground, i.e. your statement (which is very important to both sides). They are not allowed to surprise the other side with sudden evidence.

UserName01_2

aileth wrote: »

Defence and Prosecution barristers/solicitors are officers of the court and have a duty of full disclosure to each other so everyone is playing off the same ground, i.e. your statement (which is very important to both sides). They are not allowed to surprise the other side with sudden evidence.

I have knew nothing from the defence side apart from that he no commented all through his police interview and that he was pleading not guilty. I was told there was no witness statement for the defence so unsure how they called for his witness yesterday. The sargent hasn't called back, he will hopefully call tomorrow and I will ask how he had a witness when there was no police statement made.

It was only just minutes before I gave evidence that the prosecution explained what type of questions the defence solicitor would ask 'ie so are you sure if was my client, could you be mistaken' (but nothing like that was asked) then he said one question will be about cards.

I knew the defence solicitor was going to defend my ex partner as that is his job and obviously put blame on to me, this is why I have been worried about going to court. Not only was I terrified of standing up to him and seeing him and speaking out when I have no confidence but I was also scared he would walk free and would be laughing and I would look like a liar in court.

The solicitor has basically read my statement and turned EVERYTHING around. Everything I stated in my statement such as, he followed my car, blocked me in, he go out out the car, I threatened to phone police. It was all turned into, you followed him, you got out the car, he threatened to phone the police so you drove away and got some 'freak' to put your window out.

I felt like saying that freak will be your client! I was so calm but he wound me up that my family were worried I was going to argue back when he was shouting, blaming me and being so harsh. I am not sure if he was the duty solicitor or my ex partners own solicitor, either way I think he was terrible at his job as he just kept going round in circles and had absolutely nothing on me.

I think my ex has either been sacked from his job because of this case or had left voluntarily to be accepted for legal aid. If that is the case he won't of had to pay for the solicitor? Will that be the 'court costs' that he has been ordered to pay? I am just curious as he has getting off very lightly and if the fines etc are based on your income then he should have been paying more if he is still working.

aileth

I don't know a lot about legal aid, but as far as I can remember certain benefits give you a broad entitlement, but they do look at savings/incomings etc.

I also remember a couple both being charged who earned a combined income of £100,000 and were granted some legal aid but they had to make a contribution of sorts, few grand a month.

I know it will feel terrible, but the defence barrister is there to try and make his client look not-guilty in the eyes of the Jury/Magistrates and thus demeaning your character in whatever way he can, be it grasping at straws by going round in circles in cross-examination or whatever. Even despite this, they found him guilty, they believed you despite what he had to say, you must try and take whatever little comfort you can out of that if at all possible.

I hope you manage to sort the Police out as the whole thing seems really unprofessional and the last thing you need when in this sort of situation. I wish you every strength

UserName01_2

I have just has a call from woman's aid. The lady was supporting someone else in the room when I was at court. Although I never spoke to her, she was given my number from witness service who helped me at the court and she remembered seeing me in the room. I wish I had gone through woman's aid now instead of victim support as they help with domestic violence and attend court with you. They are in the same building where I was going for victim support. Victim support referred me to witness service in the court as it was mainly help with attending court that I needed and not emotional support.

She called regarding the restraining order as witness service didn't know a lot about it and even said she was surprised he got off without a restraining order. She said it could be down to the lies he's said when given evidence which I haven't heard as I wasn't able to go into the court room and my family came out of court after I gave my evidence. Although it was probably best I didn't hear what was said as it will have been a lot of lies and accusations I am still curious to know as whatever he said could have been the reason why the is no restraining order on him. It just seems strange how he was found guilty of assault and I am still not protected even though I said I am terrified of him, scared to go out alone and scared to answer my own door. Woman's aid have told me to phone the prosecution and ask why there's no restraining order on him. If I want an order on him then I would have to go through a solicitor, then my ex would have to accept the order. If he ignored or didn't accept then we would have to fight in court so its a costly thing.

The best way is to just to contact police whenever he contacts me or approaches me. He will be given a warning for harassment and if there is any further contact he will be arrested. Then charged, go to court and the restraining order would possibly be granted that way. I still think he will give me hassle if he sees me out but not over the phone etc where there would be evidence.

From my understanding of legal aid, I think you are astill entitled to help with costs even if you work as it doesn't just go by you income but what you are paying out each week/month and if you don't have enough left to live on then you are entitled to help with costs.

The Sargent was supposed to call me yesterday regarding my complaint to tell me what is happening but the missed call was actually woman's aid, not the Sargent. I know he's shifts finish a 2pm this week so doesn't look like he is going to call me today. He will be on nights next week so I probably not hear for him anytime soon unless he works early shift over the weekend and starts nights Monday.