A domestic abuse survivor says her six-year-old daughter saved her life by telling her teachers ‘my daddy is hurting my mummy’.

Jodie Keegans, 36, had suffered three years of domestic abuse by her husband Scott Keegans before he was jailed for 18 years last month.

She believes the abuse may have gone on for even longer if her ‘superhero’ daughter had not told a teacher at her school in October 2017: ‘Daddy’s hurting mummy, she says she loves him but he keeps hurting her.’

Jodie Keegans, 36, says her six-year-old daughter saved her life (Picture: SWNS)

Scott Keegans was sentenced to 18 years for several counts of domestic violence and rape against Jodie (Picture: SWNS)

During his reign of terror, Jodie wasn’t allowed to work, have a mobile phone or see her friends and family.




The mum-of-three even had to miss her own sister’s funeral after she died unexpectedly in 2015 from undiagnosed cancer.

Towns and cities across northern England and Wales to face new restrictions this weekend

When Jodie was taken to hospital after her husband, 34, was finally arrested, doctors found she had a broken shoulder, a ripped ear, nine shattered ribs and six spinal fractures and told her she was at risk of lung and organ failure.

She was also covered in bite marks and had clumps of her hair pulled out, she said.

Jodie admitted she had tried to glue her ripped ear back together with eyelash glue after Keegans almost tore it off and refused to let her go to hospital.

He beat her so badly she had a broken shoulder, a ripped ear, nine shattered ribs and six spinal fractures and was at risk of lung and organ failure (Picture: SWNS)

She stayed at Doncaster Hospital for five days over Christmas and said: ‘It was the best Christmas I have ever had.’

Keegans became aggressive after they had already been together for ten years, Jodie said.

'Talented' police officer shot dead in Croydon station named as Sgt Matt Ratana, 54

He would regularly bite, punch and stamp on her, often leaving her bruised and with broken bones and fractures.

The beatings were daily and ‘could come out of nowhere’ with reasons ranging from his coffee not being made properly or her being able to sleep when he couldn’t.

Jodie, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, credits her brave daughter for helping them all escape the abuse.

The injuries sustained by Jodie (Picture: SWNS)

She said: ‘My daughter is my superhero for being brave enough to tell her school was was happening, which is when support services first became involved.

‘She really did save my life.’

Jodie, who thought Keegans would kill her multiple times, said their 13-year relationship wasn’t always so violent.

The couple married in October 2009 on Halloween and celebrated with a horror-themed wedding with Jodie dressed as the corpse bride.

Jodie said: ‘It started off really good, he was a great partner and father in the beginning but about three years ago, his possessive behaviour started to escalate.

‘He didn’t want me to engage with anyone and would always question the kids, asking “who did mummy speak to today?”

‘He used to tell me I was lazy and tell the kids “mummy is useless.”‘

Jodie, who thought Keegans would kill her multiple times, said their 13-year relationship wasn’t always so violent (Picture: SWNS)

On September 5 Keegans was found guilty by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court of six counts of assault, sexual assault by penetration and rape (Picture: SWNS)

The severe abuse finally came to an end on December 23 after Keegans beat her for two hours with a rolling pin which left 95% of her body covered in bruises.

But when the police arrived at the house, Keegans tried to run out the back door.



Jodie said: ‘As soon as I saw them I knew this might be my only chance and I made sure all of the windows and doors were locked and that he was actually gone.

‘Then I did something I’d never done before, showed the two police officers my injuries and simply said, “I think I’m a victim of domestic abuse”.

‘I guess that was the first time I had actually admitted what was happening to me and that I needed help.’

Now she wants to help other victims of domestic abuse (Picture: SWNS)

On September 5 Keegans was found guilty by a jury at Sheffield Crown Court of six counts of assault, sexual assault by penetration and rape.

Jodie said: ‘It was definitely a nerve-racking experience facing him in court but it was the closure I needed to move on with my life.

‘For him to get such a lengthy sentence was the best possible result.’

Now Keegans is behind bars, Jodie has begun rebuilding her life and is now dedicating her time to helping other victims of domestic abuse.

She said: ‘I want to empower women, and men, to come forward. To anyone who has been a victim of domestic abuse, the help is there and it’s amazing, you just need to take that first step and reach out.

‘You just don’t talk about it, you keep it silent, you keep it a secret, but there needs to be a spotlight shone on it to increase awareness.’

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.