'My TikTok account saved my life after I realised who my boyfriend really was'

A mum says she realised she was in an abusive relationship after spotting similarities between the crime videos she was sharing on TikTok.

Bekah Smith started her TikTok channel in May 2023 where she narrates crime stories for her 38.3k followers. The 34-year-old was in a relationship with MMA fighter Karl Draper at the time when she started drawing harrowing parallels between her situation and the videos she was making.

Bekah, a content creator, said: “I think my TikTok account saved my life. I always avoided doing domestic violence stories – I think I knew deep down it was because I was in one. But making the videos really gave me the confidence to look at my own relationship.''

Bekah met Draper in December 2020 through mutual friends. Initially, things were "great", but within months he turned violent. It would be years until she felt able to speak out, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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Bekah said: “He was horrendous from the moment he moved in – there were so many red flags. He isolated me from everyone and stopped me going out. He would monitor my social media and not let me post things. My friends and family didn’t know how bad it was – I didn’t realise either.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Draper, 23, of Jade Close, in Kirkby, had been with Ms Smith for around three years until their relationship came to an end in September 2023. She then told the police she had been subjected to verbal and physical abuse at his hands throughout their time together.

Cheryl Mottram, prosecuting, described how she had previously "made excuses for his behaviour" and "stayed with him because she loved him", but "kept photographs and recordings" evidencing his