Sister of murder victim speaks out about rise in domestic violence and stalking during lockdown

Katie Summers was stabbed to death by Brian Taylor at her home on Masefield Drive in Farnworth on October 9, 2008 while their two youngest children were still in the house.

She was only 24 and had not long split up from 29-year-old Taylor after suffering years of abuse.

He was given a life sentence in February 2009 after pleading guilty to her murder.

Brian Taylor

In the present situation, where the lockdown is in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Katie's sister Sarah believes victims being trapped in their homes with perpetrators is a dangerous prospect.

Sarah, 33, said: "I know there has been an increase in domestic violence

"These kind of circumstances are difficult for everybody and I think it isolates more victims of domestic violence and stalking.

"It was expected to happen in my opinion.

"It is always difficult for a victim to speak if the person is the perpetrator that lives with them. It makes it harder for police to help the victim.

"The stalker could also be the only person you confide in."

Chairwoman of national stalking advocacy service Paladin Rachel Horman has noticed a major rise in her work recently.

Rachel is also a solicitor specialising in stalking and domestic abuse and is based in Lancashire.

She said: "Our workload has increased by approximately 40 per cent since the lockdown as stalkers have much more time to carry out there targeted and obsessive behaviour against victims.

"The victims also feel much more vulnerable as they often cannot attend work or escape from the house or obtain support from their family and friends in the same way.

"We are still seeing cases of stalkers physically stalking victims and watching the house and there has been a huge increase in relation to online stalking.

"Most people are using technology to communicate with friends and family and this is particularly distressing when the same technology is being used against the victim by the stalker."

Although mum-of-three Sarah acknowledges law changes to stalking in recent years have improved, she believes more needs to be done to support victims.

She remembers that several threats were made by Taylor against Katie before he took her life but action was not taken.

And Sarah also thinks that educating youngsters is the key to making a real change in how people behave in relationships when they grow up.

"When you end a relationship of domestic violence, the first three months afterwards are the most dangerous," Sarah said.

"If they cannot get that person back they isolate them and turn other people against them to stop people seeing each other.

"He began stalking my sister and took her life.

"She went from a domestic violence victim to a stalking victim

"It is never going to change until more people are educated.

"It was only after Katie died that we learnt a lot about it.

"Children are taught about drink driving so why not stalking?

"We need to stop seeing an argument between a couple as something behind closed doors- it is not acceptable.

"People still make jokes about it.

"Domestic violence and stalking is everyone's responsibility and we should do something if we can see someone is acting aggressively towards their partner in the street.

"A lot has happened since my sister died but there is still a lot to do."

Monday will also mark what would have been Katie's 36th birthday, which is a time when her family reflect on the happy moments that they shared together.

Sarah said: "What we try to do is separate her birthday and the date she was taken away from us.

"It is sad Katie is not here but it's her birthday so we say 'let’s think about the happy times'.

"In October we try not to not think about all the sad times.

"Life had to go on. I have children and they know about their auntie.

"They know she is a star in the sky."

To contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline phone 0808 2000 247.

To get in touch with the National Stalking Helpline contact 0808 802 0300.