'My abusive ex locked me in the house and stalked me through Alexa'

Carolyn Shepherd lived in fear but reveals what gave her the strength to leave

- ANN CUSACK

When Carolyn Shepherd, 38, from Wirral, went looking for love online in her twenties she thought she'd found her perfect match in Wayne Wellings. However, Wayne was far from the man of her dreams and quickly turned into an obsessive, controlling and abusive monster. Here, she shares her story of endurance and bravery...

Opening the window, I smiled awkwardly as the delivery man handed me my parcel through the gap. “Sorry,” I muttered. “I can’t open my front door, I’ve lost my keys.”

It wasn’t true. Yet how could I tell him that my own husband locked me in the house every time he went out, so he could keep track of my movements? I’d become so used to covering up and making excuses for Wayne, I just thought it was normal. I was busy locking the window when Wayne’s voice boomed out of the Alexa in the living room. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

“I’m right here,” I replied. “I promise.” “Who are you with?” he snapped.

“Nobody,” I assured him. “It was just a delivery. That’s all.”

I was trapped in my own home, under surveillance all day from a man who was supposed to love me. He listened in at random times of the day, to make sure I was always on my own. I felt so isolated and lonely. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.

When we’d met online, in 2013, Wayne seemed like a catch. He wanted us to be together all the time; he was so intense. I was flattered, thinking he really loved me. At 27, I was ready to settle down, and I thought he felt the same.

Over time, I learnt Wayne had argued with most of his friends and family. He wasn’t really close to anyone. But I told myself that was his business. Within six months, we’d found a place together.

On our first night in our new home, we went out for drinks. Wayne was drunk when we got in and ordered a takeaway. He flew into a rage when the food was late, and somehow turned his anger on me.