'Nobody deserves to live in a world where there is violence': Domestic abuse victim speaks out

But Cindy Bufton, who was sexually assaulted by her husband after she tried to leave, wants to tell women they can take action and will be heard by the authorities.

The 43-year-old mother of three said it was a long, tough process to see justice done, but ultimately worth it for a life free of violence.

And today she has waived her right to anonymity in order to help encourage others in the same situation seek help.

Colin Davies, 44, was jailed for six years this month for assaulting Miss Bufton at their home near the village of Onibury, near Ludlow in March 2014.

She said she was due to give evidence at Davies trial, but he changed his plea to guilty on the day of the hearing.

Miss Bufton legally changed back to her maiden name to distance herself from Davies even before divorce papers could be served.

She said: "I want my story told so more women like me will stand up.

"You might have a fear of losing your house or not having enough money, but in the end none of that matters."

She said she married Davies a couple of years ago and he moved in with her and her two young daughters from a previous relationship, first at Rocks Green, Ludlow, near to her grown daughter.

But she said it was when they moved to a more isolated location that things took a turn for the worse.

"We moved into a cottage in a very rural area near Onibury. We were in the middle of nowhere basically, and after a couple of months I noticed a change in him.

"For 18 months of living together he was abusive, but I did nothing about it as a lot of women don't.

"You kind of think things will change and he didn't mean it. He said that he would seek help for his anger and I believed him."

She said after one night in February 2014 it got too much and she decided to leave.

"I waited for him to go to work in the morning and decided to pack some things - just what me and the girls would need - and went to stay with my eldest daughter.

"I was adamant I would not go back but he was refusing to move out of the house and I'd left everything, I'd only taken a couple of bags.

"So I decided to go back to the house one morning in March to collect some things, when I thought he would be at work."

But he wasn't at work, she said, and that was where he sexually assaulted her.

"Obviously being in an isolated place there was nobody around," she said, "I just got in the car and went, telling myself all the way down this long lane that it didn't happen - and that nobody would believe me if I said it did, because he was my husband."

She said if it wasn't for a work colleague she would not have gone to the police.

"I arrived at work and I was completely numb," she said, "My colleague could see something was up but it took a while to tell her.

"She said 'You reported it, didn't you?' and I said 'No, I'm married to him, who would listen?' - I thought the police wouldn't take it seriously."

She said her colleague dialled 999 for her and handed her phone, and she was told to come straight to the police station, where she spent the the whole evening until 2am.

"That was where a long journey started," she said, "It suddenly becomes real what has actually happened."

She said it wasn't easy undergoing physical examinations and having every aspect of her relationship scrutinised to the point she felt stripped of her dignity.

"You might feel they are against you, you are asked to disclose such personal stuff - but the help you get comes from that, and you have to keep telling yourself why you are doing it.

"The police have been fabulous, just turning up on the doorstep to see if I was ok, getting CCTV on the house, putting me in touch Axis counselling group who come out to the house and offer you support, so that when you hit rock bottom they are there to pull you back up."

She said she had also been put in touch with women who had been through similar things to her, which was eye-opening.

"It felt like the longest 20 months of my life, but now I look back and I think it was well worth it.

"Nobody deserves to live in a world where there is violence," she said.

Jailing Davies earlier this month, Judge Peter Barrie told him: "You assaulted her in circumstances that were degrading and painful. It has had a profound effect on her, forcing her to change her name and move away. You have clearly failed to understand what it was like for her."