My controlling boyfriend strangled and gouged my eyes on my daughter's seventh birthday but I was saved by my watch | The Sun

A MUM has told how was saved by her watch after her controlling boyfriend launched into a terrifying attack following her daughter's birthday party.

Benjamin Rumfitt, 40, strangled Faye Matthews and gouged at her eyes leaving the 36-year-old fearing for her life.

Incredibly, quick-thinking Faye was saved by her watch after she secretly managed to answer a call from Rumfitt's mum on it.

She called the police after hearing the brutal attack in the background and her son was arrested.

Brave Faye has now spoken out about her ordeal, which came just moments after the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve.

She said: "Christmas was a special time for us. Christmas Day was our first date and New Year was my daughter’s birthday.

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“The attack came completely out of the blue, just minutes after the midnight countdown, and I thought he would kill me.”

The couple first met as teenagers while working at Morrison's and reconnected five years ago on social media.

They shared a "lovely" first date on Christmas Day 2017 and moved in with each other a year later.

Hospital worker Faye said at first Rumfitt could be "too intense" but overall the relationship was "good".

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However, by the end of 2021, he had become more and more stressed.

Despite his issues, the couple still celebrated Christmas together as a family with Faye's two kids.

On New Year's Eve, they enjoyed a party at a trampoline park for Faye's seven-year-old daughter's birthday and looked forward to spending the evening alone as the children were at a sleepover.

But the night turned violent when "agitated" Rumfitt re-appeared from the loo and told her: "If we split up, you will meet someone else really quickly, I know it."

Faye tried to brush him off but he told her "I wish death on you" before launching into the attack.

She said: "He was very close to me on the sofa, and I could hear his breathing getting louder and louder. He put his arms around my neck and began squeezing tighter and tighter.

“I couldn’t breathe. I was choking and I could taste blood. He pulled me to the ground and punched me over and over in the face. I thought he was going to kill me.

“He punched me 10 times and I was pleading with him to stop. I begged him to let me see my children again. He stopped for a moment, and I took my chance and ran from the house.

“I was screaming for help in the garden, and he came after me and attacked me again, pressing his thumbs into my eyes and gouging. The pain was horrendous.

“Ben stopped briefly to call his mum. I could feel my face swelling and my eyes were closed.”

How you can get help

Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:

• Always keep your phone nearby.
• Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
• If you are in danger, call 999.
• Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
• Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
• If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
• Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.

If you are a ­victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support ­service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].

Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.

You can also call the freephone 24-hour ­National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Thankfully when Rumfitt's mother called back, Faye answered the call and kept silent so she could hear what was happening.

The brute was arrested and bruised Faye was taken to hospital after breaking her eye socket.

She said: “It was awful having the face the kids the day after, I tried telling them I had Covid, but my face was such a mess. It was New Year’s Day, it was supposed to be a celebration, and I felt at rock bottom.

“I couldn’t drive for two weeks, I had no feeling in one side of my face, I had lots of hospital appointments for my eye socket. It was just awful.”

Rumfitt was jailed for two years at ten months after pleading guilty to wounding with intent.

Faye is now determined to put the horror behind her and is hoping to help others by speaking out.

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She said: "I feel disappointed with the sentencing, but I will put it behind me. I won’t let him ruin this Christmas. I am looking to the future now.

“My advice to other women would be to check out the man you’re dating. Make sure he is safe. A quick search on google could save your life.”

Anyone can request to find out if their partner has history of abuse under Clare's Law. Visit clares-law.com

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