A mother and her two young children have been rescued from an alleged domestic abuse nightmare in Estepona.
It came after the brave woman fled her home and confided in a cafe worker, leading to the arrest of her 28-year-old partner.
The incident unfolded at around 5.30pm on Friday, when an employee at a local cafe called the emergency services after the distressed woman arrived seeking help.
According to the Women’s Support Team (EAM), the woman broke down in tears as she told the worker she had escaped from her home with her 11-month-old baby and 10-year-old child.
She said she had been subjected to repeated abuse and threats by her partner.
The woman had visible bruises and marks on different parts of her body.
She told the cafe worker that her partner had allegedly threatened to kill her, kept her locked inside their home, pulled out her hair during one assault and, on another occasion, held a knife to her neck in front of their children.
Following the emergency call, police were dispatched while specialists from the EAM gathered information from witnesses and assessed the level of risk.
When officers arrived at the family home, they found the woman terrified and initially unwilling to cooperate or make a formal complaint against her alleged attacker.
Police therefore activated Spain’s ‘Protocol Zero’, which allows officers to intervene in suspected cases of gender violence even when the victim is too frightened or unwilling to report the abuse.
An EAM psychologist spoke with the woman by phone for more than 25 minutes, providing emotional support and helping build enough trust for her to finally open the door and cooperate with officers.
The Policia Nacional later arrested the suspect, who has since been handed over to the courts in Estepona.
Although the woman has not filed a formal complaint, the investigation is continuing.
The EAM said the intervention demonstrated the vital role members of the public can play in protecting victims of domestic abuse.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
