A SURVIVOR of domestic abuse has bravely shared her story as she rebuilds her life after seeing justice served.
The woman, who is not being named, spoke to this paper after her abuser was sentenced for his crimes.
William John Hastings, 59, of Lochwood, Beattock was last week given a £1250 fine and issued with a three-year non-harassment order after he was found guilty of abusing the woman between March 2020 and June 2024.
A trial at Dumfries Sheriff Court had heard that he would monitor her whereabouts on a mobile app and repeatedly ask where she was.
He also isolated the woman from her friends and family, prevented her from socialising and discouraged her from going out of her own.
In addition, Hastings criticised the woman’s appearance, encouraged her to dress in a certain way and repeatedly requested her to carry out manual labour when she was in poor health. He also repeatedly accused the woman of being unfaithful.
This week she stood strong and gave her side, saying: “I’m choosing to share my story now that the court has found my ex-partner guilty of all charges brought against him, with additional charges accepted and upheld by the sheriff.
“This outcome marks not only a legal victory but a deeply personal one. For the first time, my truth has been recognised publicly, and the weight I’ve carried in silence can now begin to lift.”
She described how over the course of their relationship, she endured emotional, physical, and psychological abuse, adding: “The person who appeared charming and controlled to the outside world used power, fear, and manipulation behind closed doors.
“Leaving that relationship wasn’t the end — it was the beginning of a long and difficult fight to be believed, to protect my child, and to reclaim my voice.”
Commenting on the trial and having to give evidence, she said: “Standing in court was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. To relive the trauma in a sterile setting, to be cross-examined, to have my motives questioned — none of it was easy.
“But I was met with respect, care, and fairness from the sheriff, the police, the procurator fiscal, and the victim support team. Their professionalism reminded me that justice, though not perfect, is possible.”
Of the judgement, she added: “Although the sheriff issued a financial penalty rather than a rehabilitation order, a three-year non-harassment order is now in place.
“This recognises the ongoing risk and provides a legal boundary of safety for me and my child. While part of me wished for a different sentence, I also believe that true accountability comes through change — and I still hold hope that change is possible.”
The woman says she wants awareness not sympathy and stressed that: “Domestic abuse often hides in plain sight. Abusers are often people who appear well-liked, well-connected, or even generous. But abuse is about control — not anger. And control thrives in silence.”
Now rebuilding her life, she is reflecting on what has happened and thanked those who supported her, saying: “Many people turned their backs on me when I needed them the most. People I trusted. People who should have known better. That betrayal added another layer of pain.
“But I’ve also learned that the absence of the wrong people makes space for the right ones. And I’ve found strength in places I never expected.
“I want to thank the people who supported me quietly and fiercely throughout this process. And I want to say this clearly — to my child, to myself, and to others like me: ‘We are not what they did to us. We are what we choose to become after’.”
Her final message is to fellow victims and she said: “To anyone reading this who is afraid, isolated, or wondering if they’ll ever be free — please know you are not alone. The path is hard. But it is walkable. And truth, when spoken bravely, does have power.”
