The brave survivor of a 10-years-long campaign of coercive control and violence has spoken out as her abuser has been jailed.

A court heard how Asif Alam used coercive control, abused and assaulted the woman over a period of 10 years, starting when she was 15 years old and he was 28.

In a powerful impact statement, the survivor said: “The realisation of the abuse has destroyed my mental health, I have been diagnosed with Complex PTSD and I have been told that this is because my body doesn’t know how to react to the trauma from the past twelve years.

“I haven’t been able to sleep a full night, I have constant and vivid nightmares, thinking about what he’s done to me, I often have nightmares about his hands squeezing around my neck and I can feel it getting tighter until I wake up sweating. I have flash backs randomly throughout the day, even when I am doing mundane things. There’s no trigger and it is clear as day, visions of him hitting me, like a scary film playing in my head.

“I have sought help and I have been given medication, but it doesn’t seem to help, I have suicidal thoughts and I am scared that if I am on any stronger medication then it might make my thoughts worse.

“I try to feel optimistic for the future and I hope that one day the nightmares and flashbacks will stop, and I can finally live my life with the freedom that I lost when I was 15 years old.”

Asif Alam (28/08/1986) of Alston Gardens, Burnage, pleaded guilty to coercive controlling behaviour, non-fatal intentional strangulation, assault by beating and stalking involving fear of violence.

On Friday 9 October, Alam was sentenced to four years prison. He was also made subject to a 16-year restraining order.

Detective Constable Chloe Stevens said: “I’d like to thank the incredibly brave survivor for coming forward and speaking to us about the abuse she was subjected to. I hope today’s sentence provides her and her loved ones with a measure of justice and closure as she looks to rebuild her life.

“I would urge anyone experiencing abusive, controlling or coercive behaviour to come forward and speak to police. Preventing violence against women and girls remains a priority for Greater Manchester Police, and we are committed to providing victims with the support, protection and assistance they need.”