A MUM spoke today of her years of domestic abuse and her courageous decision to bring her monster boyfriend to justice.

Helen McKeown thought she was going to die when David Dawson launched a horrific attack in her home as her three children lay in bed upstairs.

After trying to throttle her on the bed, he knelt on her arms and punched her in the face before lunging at her with a hammer and thumping her again.

Helen, who had suffered around a dozen physical assaults during their relationship, could take no more. Fearing he would kill her she spoke to police.

Dawson was jailed for 18 months by Judge Anthony Hammond who told him: "For a man to do that to a woman is disgraceful."

Helen, 24, made an emotional plea to women trapped in the same situation to get help.

Emotional plea

She said: "It starts with name calling, then it's a slap. He told me he wouldn't do it again and I would back him up. I could have ended up dead.

"I would say to anyone else in the same position if someone says the same to you, don't listen - the next time could be too late.

"There's help out there. Believe me you can do it. Do it for your children, they have to come first.

"Previously when he attacked me, I hid my wounds with make-up. I don't know why I forgave him before - maybe it was because I loved him or because I was scared what might come next.

"I don't love him anymore. It's just me and my children from now on."

Helen, from Wythenshawe, gave a harrowing account of the final attack last June.

She had returned home after a night out and he was unable to have sex with her.

Harrowing

"I could see he had been drinking and taking drugs. I was on the bed and he punched me in the groin. When I recoiled with pain he punched me in the face. He knelt on my arms so I couldn't move.

"After one punch blood shot out of my nose and I think it was only then that he realised what he had done. We went to the living room and he said sorry but I had an asthma attack.

"When he came near me I panicked which made him angry and he started hitting me again. He grabbed the hammer and went for my face.

"I shielded myself, raising my arm and leg and the hammer came down on my foot. He's a big guy, I thought he was going to kill me.

"I heard my daughter, who was four, walking across the landing. I shouted at her to stay upstairs so she didn't see what was happening. I was worried he might turn on her.

"There was blood everywhere, over my baby's play mat and the cushions."

Helen suffered three fractures top her jaw, a broken nose and a broken toe. Part of her face was permanently paralysed.

Paralysed

"When it first happened my son wouldn't come near me as he was scared. He could hear my voice but didn't recognise my face because it was such a mess.

"I had to wear dark glasses to cover up where my face was yellow with bruises. I felt ashamed, although my friends told me I had nothing to be ashamed of."

Helen described other attacks by Dawson during their relationship. One Boxing Day he gave her a black eye because he did not want her to visit her parents and slapped and dragged her around by her hair while screaming abuse.

Dawson, of Iqbal Close, Gorton, was jailed at Manchester Crown Court after admitting causing grievous bodily harm.

Helen said: "My mum was crying when she heard the sentence. She said 'it is nowhere near enough, you could have died and those three kids would be without a mum and I would have been without a daughter.'

"The pain this has put my family through hurts much more than the physical pain I suffered.

"I wanted to speak out to let people know that there is life after domestic violence and one day somebody will love you for being you and look after you."