After the festive season, Kerry King, aged 39, discovered bruises on her young daughter’s legs during bath time. Concerned, Kerry asked her daughter about the bruises, and the four-year-old revealed that Kerry’s boyfriend had been unkind to her.
Knowing her partner, John Purdy, had a history of violence, Kerry confronted him about the marks on her daughter’s legs. Purdy claimed the bruises were from a fall on the ice. However, just two days later, Purdy viciously attacked Lilah, Kerry’s daughter. Despite also being a victim of Purdy’s abuse, Kerry found herself being pursued by the police, who accused her of not adequately protecting her child from him.
In January 2015, Kerry woke up in the middle of the night to find Purdy missing from their bedroom. Upon searching, she found him in her daughter’s room, strangling Lilah. Kerry intervened, trying to stop him, but her actions only fueled his anger.
During the harrowing ordeal, Purdy demanded that Kerry hold Lilah down so he could continue the abuse. Despite her own history of suffering at Purdy’s hands, Kerry shielded her daughter from the blows, eventually attempting to escape the house for help.
However, her escape was thwarted as Purdy dragged her back into the bedroom, threatening her life if she tried to leave. Despite her fear, Kerry managed to send a discreet text to her mother for help, which led to the authorities being alerted.
Following the incident, Purdy was sentenced to 18 years in prison, while Kerry faced severe legal consequences for her perceived failure to protect her daughter. Despite her claims of being scared and not being a bad mother, Kerry was sentenced to 30 years in prison, running concurrently, for her involvement in the incident.
Lilah, now 11 years old, still visits her mother in prison monthly, expressing sorrow over her absence. She longs for personal interactions, recognizing the limitations of phone communication for creating meaningful memories.
For assistance with domestic abuse, individuals can contact the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline at 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk.