A woman who was nearly murdered by her former partner has spoken out about how a doctor warned her she was in an abusive relationship weeks before the attack, a warning she initially dismissed. Caz Goddard was taken to a Bristol hospital in April 2025 after a suicide attempt, where a doctor informed her she was being coercively controlled. Ms Goddard, from North Somerset, recalled the doctor telling her, "you will get really hurt... next time was when the violence started."
Despite the medical warning, Ms Goddard did not believe she was a victim of domestic abuse, struggling to reconcile the doctor's words with her self-perception. Her then-partner, James Stock, remained constantly by her side during her hospital stay, a behaviour she now understands as part of his controlling tactics. Weeks after her discharge, when Ms Goddard found the courage to ask Stock to leave her home in July 2025, he launched a brutal assault that left her with severe injuries, including a broken nose requiring surgery, and ongoing struggles with breathing, PTSD, and night terrors. Stock has since been sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempted murder.
Coercive control, a form of domestic abuse recognised under UK law, involves a pattern of behaviour designed to isolate, control, and undermine a person's independence, often without initial physical violence. Ms Goddard described how Stock would send insulting messages, calling her "ugly" and a "skank," and repeatedly lied about dating apps. These subtle signs, along with his constant presence in the hospital, were not recognised by her as abuse at the time.
Emergency department staff across the NHS are increasingly trained to identify the subtle indicators of domestic abuse, even when patients do not disclose or recognise it themselves. Dr Duncan Courtney, an A&E consultant at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, noted that staff look for "little things that make you wonder, someone clearly being controlled by their partner." He added that while there are spikes in reported domestic abuse, such as during major sporting events, it is unclear if this reflects an increase in incidents or improved detection mechanisms.
The psychological toll of domestic abuse is increasingly being highlighted by legal professionals. Latest police figures from England and Wales recorded 150 suspected suicides linked to domestic abuse last year, compared with 80 domestic homicides. This stark difference underscores the devastating mental health impact of abuse. Kate Brown, Chief Crown Prosecutor, emphasised that police having this knowledge allows for more cases to be investigated, aiming to meet the criminal standard of proof for psychological abuse. Ms Goddard now hopes her story will encourage others to recognise the warning signs of coercive control and take concerns seriously.