What it was like to live with a woman-bashing gambler… my story as told by Cassie (Name changed for obvious reasons)…

I didn't realise how bad it was at first, just a few bets here and there. It couldn't hurt, right?

Wrong! All our money from as little as fifty cents went to the races.

He started selling things, just to gamble. We had almost nothing. I wish I had never got into such a relationship. I really thought I loved him Got engaged and all. He even sold my ring to some guy for $20 - I hope it was worth it…

He didn't have much luck and soon the verbal abuse started. It was always my fault that his horse or dog didn't win. He then started shoving me about. It turned into physical abuse. I fought back but it just made him wild and I avoided eye contact with him, his eyes were just too scary to look at when he was in a mood.

The police were involved a few times. Once they took me to a Women's Refuge but the very next day, I went back for more.

I now have stuffed knees because he pulled me down a set of stairs. One hit the concrete why the other jarred on me. I couldn't go to a doctor though as he reckoned I would tell them what happened.

We went to court once, but thanks to his grandfather all charges laid on him were dropped and silly me still stuck with him.

What is love if you think you love that?

They make you believe they love you and no one else can. You won't be good enough for anyone else, only them…

Boy was he wrong!

We moved to about the 6th house we'd lived in so far and I managed to get a job close to him. I had a black eye the first day there. I don't know if it was pity or not but a guy befriended me. He was really sweet and I felt comfortable around him. Well as comfortable as a person could feel after being treated like shit for a year and a half.

With a lot of help from a friend next door who came over a number of times to get me out of the crap and this new guy from work I was out of there.

In safer arms… No more bruises and my fear slowly disappeared, but the memories stay. I do think I am a lot luckier than a lot of women in the same situation. I could have stayed and who knows what could have happened.

If I could give any advice it would be to get out of it. You can do better and there will be someone who truly loves you.

Keep your money and your pride.

You shouldn't have to hide behind a mask of bruises and sadness.

Cassie