MEGAN Barton-Hanson has revealed she’s ended her relationship after fearing for her life.
The Love Island star said tonight that she’s been the victim of domestic abuse for a third time in a brave Instagram post.
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She accused her unnamed partner of “coercive control and emotional abuse” and said she had been made to “feel worthless”.
Megan told how she’d given her boyfriend thousands of pounds which she claims was spent on escorts and luxury hotels.
She wrote: “I was shamed for my work and silenced for my success. And like many others, I confused control for passion, and cruelty for love. I dropped charges I shouldn’t have.”
The statement continued: “It finally ended when I feared for my life simply because I wanted to go paddleboarding with two lovely older women while he was working.
“That moment shook me to my core. I’d gone all the way to Scotland to prove my loyalty — and still, I was the enemy in his eyes. I’ve made excuses in the past, blaming my own high standards or strong will, but this time, I won’t. There’s no excuse for violence. None.”
Megan said she hopes other women reading the post in similar situations can find the strength to leave their abusive partners.
The media personality also offered to work with women’s and domestic abuse charities to champion their work.
In December, during an interview with Paul C Brunson, Megan opened up about her harrowing past.
She revealed she is a survivor of repeated cases of domestic abuse, including at the hands of an ex boyfriend who viciously assaulted her before threatening to kill her on the side of a motorway.
The Essex beauty, who found fame in 2018, fell pregnant years before Love Island by an older lover after he removed his condom without her consent, also known as stealthing.
Following a termination, on the journey home from the clinic, Megan, 30, says her partner suddenly “switched” and became violently abusive.
Continuing her recollection, Megan revealed how her ex threatened to murder her before giving her “ten seconds to run” to safety.
She revealed: “We’re on a motorway, cars are speeding past at 70mph.
“I thought, even if I try (to run) it’s just going to anger him more because he’s definitely going to catch me, so I just stood there frozen.”
The star then confessed she did her “best acting” to persuade the man to “calm down” before finally dropping her home.
But later, the “nightmare” continued when the boyfriend arrived at Megan’s parents’ home armed with a crowbar.
He “squared up” to her marine biologist dad Kevin then “strangled” her mum Justine and, as the family fled in their car.
He then hurled the crowbar through the rear window, with Megan on the back seat.
She shared: “I thought he’d literally kill me, the way he was. He was acting literally psychotic.”
Bravely, Megan later told the police of her ordeal and subsequently testified against her ex in a crown court trial where he was sentenced to a month and a half in prison.
Domestic abuse – how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone – including men – and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.