Following last week's report on the problem of domestic violence in the Basingstoke area, Gazette crime reporter Charis Mastris has been speaking to a north Hampshire mum who went through a traumatic ordeal but is now rebuilding her life.

CLOSING time was fast approaching, and mother-of two Tina knew that with it came the threat of another night spent cowering on the sofa while her partner ranted and slapped her around the head.

John was angry when he went out and the alcohol he downed would fuel this into a torrent of abuse, so Tina pulled her sleepy children out of their beds and bundled them into the car.

Two years later, the 39-year-old Sherfield-on-Loddon woman can finally talk without crying about the nights she fled from her partner.

"We would just get into the car and drive when we were too frightened of him coming home," she said. "We've slept in the car before because I didn't want to worry my family and friends by asking to stay with them."

The times she left her two and seven-year-old children to sleep, she was often dragged out of her own bed for hours of verbal torture in the living room, reinforced by slaps if she moved.

"Whenever John came back from the pub, I would be worried what sort of mood he would be in," she said. "We were constantly walking on eggshells because we were worried about upsetting him in case it would cause a situation."

When Tina met John - not their real names - in 1996, she had no idea he would turn into a bully. But as their relationship developed, it became clear he had an alcohol problem which set off a violent temper.

At first, he smashed things around the house, terrifying Tina and her daughter, but later this developed into verbal and physical abuse.

"The first time he was physical towards me was when I was pregnant with our son, and he pushed me to control me," said Tina.

Later, the assaults became more common and, although the majority of his abuse was verbal, Tina found herself having to cover up black eyes - and it wasn't just her who suffered.

She recalled: "When I was being attacked, I would be very frightened and shout for help and my seven-year-old daughter would come into the room to try to help me, but I would tell her to get out. One time, she hid behind the curtains and we couldn't find her for ages. It was terrible.

"I thought what he did to us was my fault, that I was provoking the situation because I wouldn't let him do what he wanted, and it seems a lot of women think like this.

"You end up compromising so much that you feel unhappy because you don't get anything you want and you're just giving in."

Tina found herself crying all the time and eventually went to her doctor, who recommended that she go to The Hampton Trust women's support group.

"The first day that I arrived at the group, they welcomed me in. I got a couple of feet inside the door and I burst into tears, just from the relief of getting there," she said.

"It was a blessing to get to the group and find there were other women who were going through exactly the same as me, and to be able to meet and talk openly, but in strict confidence, about what what happening to me.

"I finally got the strength to ask John to leave in February last year. It was really difficult because even after all he'd done, I still really loved him, but the group really supported me in the difficult decisions I had to make."

Life has not been easy since John left - he drank away much of Tina's money and she is in danger of her home being repossessed - but she would never go back.

"Since he's been gone, it's been 100 per cent better," she said. "The tension's gone and it's a big weight off our shoulders.

"I want to say to any women who are suffering that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It can be a long dark journey, but it's nice to have someone to hold your hand and you will get there."

The Hampton Trust is an independent charity, which has a dedicated women's support worker for north Hampshire. The Trust has helped more than 600 women in the area over the past five years by providing confidential one-to-one support and a weekly drop-in group.

If you, or someone you know, is affected by domestic violence, you can call The Hampton Trust's domestic violence project on 01256 816004 or the women's support helpline on 01256 346136.