A young mum has bravely told how her boyfriend controlled her life, cut her off from her family and once warned her: “That’s where I’ll bury your body if I kill you.”

Josephine Bell, 22, says during a “traumatising” campaign of abuse her then-partner Joshua Turner also regularly confiscated her phone and threatened to take his own life if she ever broke up with him.

He even left her with bruises she was forced to hide from work colleagues after dragging her from room to room by her wrists at their Canterbury flat.

The mum-of-one has now spoken out following Turner’s conviction for controlling and coercive behaviour in the hope it will encourage other domestic abuse victims to come forward.

“I was afraid of him a lot of the time, and any time we would argue and I wanted to come home, he would say ‘Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you’,” she recalled.

“Then he’d take my phone so I couldn’t tell my family - he would put it on top of the wardrobe or under the bed where I couldn’t reach it. I felt so alone.”

Miss Bell, who now lives in Faversham, says the relationship was once a happy one but recognises there were warning signs from the start.

“At the beginning, it was really good,” she continued.

“But when we got together, I put that we were in a relationship on Facebook and his ex-girlfriend messaged me and told me he was abusive and has anger issues.

“At the time, I thought she was just a jealous ex, but about a year later everything changed and he became really scary.”

Turner appeared before Folkestone magistrates on Thursday, with details of his disturbing offending laid out by prosecutor Victoria Aked.

She told how the 25-year-old repeatedly manipulated and frightened Miss Bell during their relationship, which began in May 2022 and ended in February this year.

“He was excessively jealous, would accuse her of infidelity, confiscate her phone and did not like her talking to male friends,” said Ms Aked.

“He would threaten that she would no longer be able to see her child and threaten to commit suicide if she were to break up with him.

“On a walk by a river on one occasion, he said: ‘That’s where I’ll bury your body if I kill you’.

He was excessively jealous, would accuse her of infidelity, confiscate her phone and did not like her talking to male friends...

“The victim also describes how during an incident on February 27 of this year he dragged her by her wrists from the bathroom to the bedroom.”

Turner - a Canterbury Christ Church University graduate - pleaded guilty to the coercive behaviour charge, as well as one of assault by beating.

Defending, Mark Trafford argued that Turner, who has no previous convictions, suffers from autism and his actions can sometimes be misunderstood because of this.

“He doesn’t accept everything that the lady says, but he does paint an overall picture of how his behaviour can be interpreted,” said Mr Trafford.

“He accepts that he was in the wrong and [says] there’s been no effort to make contact with her since being arrested.”

Regarding the February incident, the lawyer added: “He didn’t drag her, but he did manhandle her.”

But speaking after the hearing, Miss Bell said the act of violence was so bad she was nervous her colleagues would notice the marks on her wrists.

“I had to work the next day and wore long sleeves because I didn’t want them to see,” she added.

The shocking case comes as figures reveal Kent Police receives more than 40 reports a week of coercive and controlling behaviour.

A report by Kent County Council shows that Thanet has the highest rates of domestic abuse-related crimes, followed by Swale, Maidstone and Canterbury.

Data shows such incidents make up over a fifth of reported crimes in the county, however, the true incidence of domestic abuse may be even higher as victims are often reluctant to report abuse to the police.

Miss Bell says she suffered in silence for months before finding the courage to come forward.

“It was really difficult; I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone about it - I was so afraid that I wouldn’t be believed by police,” she explained.

“But eventually I decided to tell my mum, and her partner reported it to the police.”

Miss Bell says she is now doing much better, living with family, and “feeling like [herself] again”, but the abuse has had lasting effects.

“I’ve had nightmares,” she said.

“I’ve had panic attacks in the street. I kept thinking that he’s going to follow through on the threats he made.

“My son was used to seeing me with him and so when he didn’t see him anymore he asked where’s he gone and it’s like - how do you explain all that to a two-year-old?”

Asked how she feels about her abuser’s conviction, she added: I feel really relieved. Hopefully it will make other people aware.

“I wanted for him to not be able to do this to someone else, or for it to get to a point where he might take someone’s life.

“I hope that other women find a safe place. I hope they have the courage to speak out about it, because being alone and feeling so isolated can really have an effect on you.

“But there are people out there who are willing to hear you, hear your story and willing to help you through everything.”

Turner, of Buffs Road, is due to be sentenced at Margate Magistrates’ Court on October 14.

Carey Philpott - the CEO of Kent charity Support & Action To End Domestic Abuse (Sateda) – says she hopes he receives a “suitable sentence for what Miss Bell has endured”.

“It’s really brave of Miss Bell to speak out, report to the police, and support a prosecution,” she said.

“Sadly, coercive control and domestic abuse are at endemic levels, with many women in Kent and across the country living with abuse.

“Abuse can take many forms, and coercion and economic abuse are often more difficult to recognise.

“We urge anyone who feels something isn’t right in their relationship to trust their instincts and seek support from a specialist service that understands the lasting trauma domestic abuse can cause.

“We know that many people live with domestic abuse for years before seeking support and finding freedom, which can leave victims living with trauma for years while they recover.

“When perpetrators are held to account, it sends a clear message that abuse will not be tolerated in our society.”

Elaine Coia, Head of Adult Services at Rising Sun Domestic Violence and Abuse Service added: “Too often, we hear of women not disclosing domestic abuse due a fear of not being believed.

“Here at Rising Sun we will believe you, listen to you and support you. You are not alone.

“Domestic abuse can take many forms, including physical, sexual, violence, threats, coercive control, financial, emotional and more. If you are experiencing any type of abuse, support is available for you.

“A member of our Survivor Forum shared: ‘The most frightening part is admitting ‘I need help’, realising that this isn’t right’.

“If you’re experiencing domestic abuse and don’t know where to turn for support, speak to a trusted professional, friend or family member about what you’re going through.

“If it’s safe, reach out to a domestic abuse service, your GP, social worker, school or attend a One Stop Shop in your local area. Support is here for you and you will be listened to.”

“Rising Sun is a domestic abuse charity working to support and empower women and children across Canterbury, Ashford and Folkestone & Hythe. “We offer a range of support services from assistance at the moment of crisis to recovery through counselling, mentoring, group sessions and work with other agencies across Kent.”