Annabel’s horrific story: ‘I was raped, abused, tortured ... then the charges were dropped

Annabel gave a 120-page statement to police outlining her allegations that she had been gagged while sexually violated, beaten and threatened with violence if she ever spoke out or tried to leave. Yet charges against her alleged abuser were dropped.

Annabel claims she spent six years held captive, repeatedly raped, physically abused and tortured by her partner, is in hiding under a fake name after 100 plus charges against the man were suddenly dropped. Picture: Supplied

The DPP is under pressure to explain why it suddenly dropped 100 charges against an alleged domestic violence perpetrator accused of repeatedly raping, physically abusing and torturing his partner for many years.

The man, who has criminal associates, was denied bail five times – twice by the Supreme Court – over the charges, and police took the case so seriously they helped the woman secure a new identity and birth certificate to keep her in hiding.

A local MP also secured the woman a car to help her start a new life and police secured an apprehended violence order that remains effective until 2026.

But now the woman – known only as Annabel – is in hiding after the state’s prosecutors dropped the case, citing “insurmountable inconsistencies in the evidence”.

Annabel said the reason given to her for the dramatic about-face was that she wrote loving text messages and cards to her alleged abuser for her own survival – behaviour she justified as “doing and saying anything that would keep me alive”.

Annabel claims her former partner repeatedly raped, physically abused and tortured her. She is now in hiding. Picture: Sylvia Liber

Despite multiple questions from The Sunday Telegraph, the DPP was not able to explain the “inconsistencies” they relied on to drop the charges, but they did acknowledge the trauma suffered by the woman.

A leading Sydney barrister who reviewed the case said the decision to drop the charges seemed “inexplicable” after the survivor’s account was regarded as credible “all the way through the system”.

The Sunday Telegraph has sighted the charges, detailed medical records which show traumatic vaginal injuries, mild brain injuries, and dysphonia from strangulations.

She escaped the violence and gave a 120-page statement to police outlining her allegations, that included being gagged while sexually violated with foreign objects, being beaten and being threatened with violence against herself and her parents if she ever spoke out or tried to leave.

Police laid charges, including multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, detain a person with attempt to take advantage, sexual assault without consent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and stalking.

Annabel said the reason given to her for the dramatic about-face was that she wrote loving text messages and cards to her alleged abuser — behaviour she justified as “doing and saying anything that would keep me alive”.

Annabel says she suffered traumatic injuries at the hands of her former partner. Picture: Supplied

Annabel feels let down by the state’s prosecutors after they dropped charges against her former partner. Picture: Supplied

She believes the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) found the case “all too hard” — considering the trial was estimated to take a number of weeks, and can only presume they had concerns about her ability to undergo gruelling cross-examination.

After being made aware of Annabel’s case NSW Attorney General Michael Daley, through a spokeswoman, told The Sunday Telegraph: “We are always looking at ways the law can be improved to help survivors of domestic violence”

When asked if Mr Daley would seek a review of the case, the spokeswoman added “the ODPP is an independent statutory office holder”.

An ODPP spokeswoman told The Sunday Telegraph decisions were made in accordance with the Prosecution Guidelines with “care, diligence, and close regard for the overarching principles of prosecutorial discretion and the public interest”.

“All prosecutions are subject to ongoing review and analysis throughout the course of the prosecution, supported by robust standard operating procedures and clear legal delegations.

“In some cases, prosecutions may be discontinued for evidentiary or discretionary reasons, or a combination of the two.

“Evidentiary reasons are where it is determined that the admissible evidence is such that there are no reasonable prospects of a conviction. Where there are no reasonable prospects of conviction, a matter will not proceed.”

An X-ray shows a sacral nerve stimulator (the oval box with wires) that was implanted to control the incontinence Annabel suffered from the assaults. The wire coils were inserted into her ovarian vein because of a massive blood clot. Picture: Supplied

Annabel told The Sunday Telegraph she was furious with the decision to drop the case against a man who threatened to “burn alive” her mother and father if she didn’t marry him.

“When the case was all of a sudden dropped I was shocked, blindsided and now I am left with nothing, isolated from my family, my life destroyed,” Annabel said.

“The way I have been treated is repugnant.”

Annabel wrote to the ODPP requesting a review of the decision not to proceed.

In a letter from the Senior Crown Prosecutor’s Chambers dated March 24, 2023, and seen by The Telegraph, Annabel was told: “At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the trauma you have suffered.”

“I have carefully examined the admissible evidence, and in particular, the evidence which was served by the police on the ODPP after the original charges were certified. I have also had close regard to the views of yourself, the officer in charge, the Witness Assistance Service officer, the charge certifiers, and the wider community against the principles and tests set out in the ODPP’s Prosecution Guidelines.

“I have ultimately come to view that there are insurmountable inconsistencies in the evidence, and the effect of those inconsistencies is that there are no reasonable prospects of a conviction.”

Annabel said the finding destroyed her.

Annabel says her life has been destroyed and she now lives in fear. File picture: iStock

“That ‘insurmountable evidence’, as they call it, refers to a birthday card, text messages from me to him. I did and said whatever was necessary to placate him,” Annabel said.

“Not just to keep myself safe, but more importantly, to keep my family safe too.

“There were threats to harm my children and family … It got to a point where I prayed he would finally kill me so I never had to suffer another day.

“Every single day for six years, I was just in constant survival mode.”

After the case was dropped Annabel wrote to MPs and NSW Police saying she was bringing to their attention “a matter of life and death”.

“Let it be known that this is an extremely dangerous individual,” she said.

“I urge you all to read my 120-page statement. The same statement that has shocked longstanding magistrates, seasoned detectives, domestic and sexual assault case workers, any person that has had the opportunity or misfortune to read what the accused has done to me.

“Let it be known I survived years of torture and abuse. By the grace of God I survived six years of him attempting to kill me.

Injuries Annabel suffered over the years. Picture: Supplied

Annabel is now in hiding under a fake name. Picture: Supplied

Despite the case being withdrawn, Annabel said authorities went to great lengths to protect her. The Telegraph has viewed correspondence between various government agencies and domestic violence advocates and Annabel about her future protection.

Police applied to extend an Apprehended Violence Order on her behalf, meaning it remains in place until June 2026.

She was given a new birth certificate with a new identity.

“NSW Police arranged for a complete name change under a DV Suppression order — for my safety. I was moved several hours away from my family — for my safety.

“I’ve been in complete isolation — for my safety.”

A leading Sydney barrister familiar with the case said: “This survivor’s account of the most serious sexual and physical violence has been regarded as eminently credible all the way through the system, only to be dismissed by prosecutors.

“In an era where charges of no more than alleged furtive touching can and do proceed to District Court trials, the decision to discontinue this case seems inexplicable.”

One DV advocate, who asked not to be named, said she was shocked about the treatment Annabel had received, and saw the effects on her of the case being suddenly dropped.

This week the Australian Law Reform Commission recommended major changes to how sexual assault crimes are prosecuted and how those reporting them are treated.

Nine in 10 women who experience sexual violence do not report it, according to the report tabled on Thursday, and in some states and territories, up to 85 per cent of police reports do not see charges laid.

The inquiry heard that when cases do make it to court, many find the experience to be re-traumatising and the report warns that sexual violence often results in no consequences for those perpetrating it.

Originally published as Annabel’s horrific story: ‘I was raped, abused, tortured ... then the charges were dropped