A brave mum has told how she endured a three-year reign of terror at the hands of a domestic abuse thug. Natalie Morgan, 39, was diagnosed with PTSD after suffering a campaign of violence and controlling behaviour at the hands of vile Garry Corbett.
The 43-year-old brute from Dreghorn, Ayrshire, was convicted of domestic abuse charges at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court earlier this month.
Last night Natalie, from Kilmarnock, said: “I don’t know how I ended up in this relationship – I was brainwashed. I lived in fear in my own home.
“When I had the courage to end the relationship, he told me ‘the only reason you’re still walking and breathing is because I’ve chosen to let you’. I’m relieved he now has a criminal record.
“I want to raise awareness of domestic abuse – I will no longer stay silent.” Natalie told how she met Corbett in December 2018 and he appeared to be the perfect gentleman, moving into her home just three months later.
“The first few months of our relationship were great,” Natalie said. “It was too good to be true. Now I can point back at all the signs and see that I was love bombed because it all changed. Garry began to have mood swings.
“I felt sorry for him because I cared. It began with control. He would bombard me with hundreds of messages a day and wanted me to look a certain way. I was just an object or a piece of property.
“He’d become very threatening and violent and would smash up rooms. He assaulted me when I tried to stop him destroying my son’s drum kit. My relationship with my parents and friends became strained.
“My mum and dad told me they didn’t like him but they had no idea how bad it was.” Corbett was convicted of domestic abuse charges spanning from May 2019 to October 2022. He was sentenced to a community payback order of 200 hours’ unpaid work.
He was also ordered to stay away from Natalie for three years. Natalie added: “I was terrified of Garry. I was so scared I couldn’t sleep properly. I had a emergency escape plan if something happened– that’s not normal.”
In 2022, she agreed to marry Corbett out of fear over what he’d do if she refused. Three months later, he throttled her when she found he’d numerous profiles on dating apps.
She said: “I married him three months before I escaped. It looks like a fairytale wedding in the pictures but I went along with it because I was terrified.
“Then I found out he had been using dating apps. When I confronted him, he strangled me. That was the day I realised I needed to get him out. My friend called me that day as she was worried something had happened. We called the police.”
Natalie has been supported by Women’s Aid since Corbett’s arrest. She added: “I was diagnosed with PTSD after counselling but I am strong and moving on.
“I’m part of a group who look at ways we can change law to help victims of domestic abuse. I’m relieved what I went through has been recognised by the courts.
“Garry’s conviction marks a significant step forward.” Scottish Women’s Aid CEO Marsha Scott said: “We are so grateful for the work of survivors and the power of their voices.”
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