There was so much blood covering Carly’s* face after she was followed home and allegedly bashed by a jealous friend, her exact injuries were unclear.
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In August, Carly had taken out an apprehended violence order against the man accused of attacking her.
It did nothing to protect her, and it is not the first time “the system” has let Carly down.
The 26-year-old woman had found anonymity in Albury after fleeing interstate from an abusive ex-partner.
That experience put her in a position to recognise the warning signs later in her dealings with a 24-year-old man who took too much interest in her relationships, and she sought the AVO.
“I was coming into my street and he came up from behind and attacked me,” Carly said.
“He was yelling, ‘who was that guy who walked you home?’, and calling me names.
“He headbutted me and I hit the ground.
“I kept my eyes shut, hoping he would think I was unconscious.”
Carly says her attacker was wearing steel-capped boots when he kicked her in the head and stomach numerous times, and then dragged her by her hair in an attack that lasted 20 minutes.
“He was saying ‘get up b***h, stop pretending to be dead’,” she said.
“He stomped on my abdomen and I remember all the air coming out of me and a lot of blood coming out of my mouth.
“Then he started backing off and ran away.
“I stayed there until he was out of view and ended up finding help from one of my neighbours.”
At Albury hospital, Carly was shocked to find out she had only sustained two fractures in her nose and whiplash.
“I thought he was trying to kill me,” she said.
“I feel uneasy being alone, even though he can’t get to me, and that’s only because of the bars in front of him.
“An AVO isn’t bars – an AVO will only help with a better sentencing when it comes to court … when it’s too late.
“Next time, he’s going to finish the job and no piece of paper is going to stop that.”
Figures from the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show 34 per cent of AVOs were breached in 2013 across the state.
In Albury last year, there were 262 domestic violence-related assaults.
Carly knows so many other women share her story.
“There needs to be something entirely different to an AVO put in place,” she said.
“I’ve already received judgement from people saying things like, ‘why do you choose to hang around people like this?’, like I put myself in this situation … that needs to change.
“Victims need to be looked after, nurtured, and not forced to uproot their lives.”
Carly’s accused attacker will face court next week, charged with assault and breaking an apprehended violence order.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, phone 1800 RESPECT.
- Names have been changed to protect identity.