In an alarming revelation, Ruth Dodsworth, a seasoned television journalist and weather presenter, has come forward to discuss the startling economic abuse she endured during her marriage. Dodsworth, who was also a victim of domestic violence, shared that her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, would make incessant phone calls, monitor her whereabouts, and physically harm her for nearly a decade.
Wignall was recently sentenced to three years in prison for stalking and coercive and controlling behavior, serving only 18 months. Shockingly, Dodsworth claims that he is now seeking half of her pension. It was only after escaping the relationship that Dodsworth began to comprehend the extent of economic abuse she had been subjected to, prompting her to raise awareness and support others facing similar challenges.
The Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) charity’s latest report, titled “Seen Yet Sidelined,” sheds light on the experiences of numerous women who have encountered economic abuse. This comprehensive study examines 810 reported cases of successful prosecutions for coercive or controlling behavior over the past eight years in England and Wales. It reveals that economic abuse, encompassing financial control and manipulation of resources, was not initially acknowledged as an offense under the law. SEA’s tireless advocacy led to the rectification of this oversight in the Domestic Abuse Act of 2021.
Alarming statistics from the report indicate that economic abuse was present in two-thirds of the analyzed cases, and physical abuse was in half of them. Astonishingly, only 2% of survivors in the cases received any form of compensation for their losses, despite the fact that their collective debts totaled £174,000. This highlights the long-standing lack of recognition and justice for survivors of economic abuse.
Nicola Sharp-Jeffs, the founder and CEO of SEA, highlights the inadequate awareness of economic abuse among survivors themselves and the low prioritization of this form of abuse by law enforcement. In some cases, the perpetrators’ control was so severe that victims tragically felt compelled to take their own lives. The report also reveals that three-quarters of those convicted of coercive or controlling behavior received custodial sentences, with an average length of 23 months, or up to 47 months if additional offenses were involved.
The report raises concerns about the diminished seriousness of coercive or controlling behavior compared to other forms of domestic abuse, as evidenced by the shorter prison sentences and potential downgrading through plea bargaining. Unlike the Scottish legal system, where coercive control is treated as a gendered crime with sentences of up to 14 years, the English and Welsh legislation includes family members and carries a five-year maximum sentence.
The stories shared within the report paint a grim picture of how economic abuse strips victims of their financial independence and security. Survivors recount their harrowing experiences, including incurring significant debts, receiving meager allowances, and being denied basic necessities. Dr. Cassandra Wiener, author of “Coercive Control and the Criminal Law,” describes how victims are subjected to constant control and intimidation, leading to a permanent sense of siege.
Heartbreaking cases like Irya’s illustrate the severe consequences of economic abuse. After enduring repeated hospitalizations and brain damage due to her husband’s abuse, she found herself unable to escape the abusive relationship due to financial constraints and coercive control. Six months into her husband’s two-and-a-half-year sentence for coercive or controlling behavior, she remains homeless, unemployed, and unable to access banking services or secure essential resources due to a tarnished credit rating and ongoing harassment from her building society.
While protocols and legislation exist to support victims and provide compensation, it is clear that more needs to be done to improve the recognition and handling of economic abuse. The SEA offers a comprehensive guide on their website to assist women navigating the aftermath of economic abuse, including resources like personal loans for those with poor credit scores resulting from domestic abuse.
The accounts shared in “Seen Yet Sidelined” shed light on the urgent need for greater awareness, recognition, and support for survivors of economic abuse. By working to rectify legal loopholes and ensuring that economic abuse is treated as part of a broader offense, including sexual, physical, economic, and psychological abuse, society can take significant strides toward protecting those vulnerable to this form of control and manipulation.
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