Hannah Mellor, 33, from Glossop, Derbyshire, has revealed how her former partner Ben Fitton, 34, subjected her to a two-year campaign of physical, mental, and sexual abuse, including banning her from brushing her teeth, before he was jailed for life.
Just weeks into their relationship in April 2021, Fitton turned violent and paranoid, accusing Hannah of cheating and even sleeping with her own brother. He isolated her from family, forced her to stop her daily hygiene which left her teeth rotten and decayed, and beat her severely.
The Escalation of Control and Violence
Fitton monitored Hannah using a Ring doorbell and deleted her social media accounts. On Christmas Day 2021, she attempted to take her life and was sectioned in a mental health unit for several months before returning.
In October 2022, Fitton rugby tackled her to the ground on her son Jack's fifth birthday, splitting her knee down to the bone and opening her head. Police visited, but Hannah lied out of fear for her family's safety.
Rescue and Justice
In May 2023, after raping her and threatening to stab her son, Hannah used the live chat on the Greater Manchester Police website to ask for help. Police arrested Fitton, recovering thousands of messages, calls, and photos.
In September 2024, Ben Fitton was found guilty of two counts of rape, non-fatal strangulation, coercive and controlling behaviour, and causing grievous bodily harm at Manchester Crown Court, receiving a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years.
