Suzie Mahe, a 31-year-old mother from Jersey, has spoken exclusively about how she used secret recordings to bring her abusive boyfriend to justice. Gavin Roberts, 47, was jailed for 15 years after subjecting Mahe to a campaign of violence, including rape and repeated strangulation. Her efforts have also sparked landmark changes to Jersey's domestic abuse laws, including a standalone offence of non-fatal strangulation.
Secret evidence captures abuse
Mahe began documenting Roberts' behaviour after learning about Clare's Law, which allows individuals to request information about their partner's history of domestic abuse. She feared that without evidence, she would not be believed or, worse, that she might die. In one recording, Roberts is heard swearing at Mahe for not being downstairs, shortly before strangling her so severely that she vomited. Another recording captures him blaming her for the abuse, saying, 'Maybe if you behaved yourself, that wouldn't happen.'
Mahe described Roberts as 'proud' of the injuries he inflicted. 'He would look around your body at your injuries and almost enjoy it,' she said. The abuse began in July 2022 after they met on a dating app and escalated rapidly. One attack outside a nightclub in October 2022 left her with torn eyelashes and a broken earring, while the most serious assault occurred during a trip away, where she was raped, strangled, and penetrated with objects without consent.
Physical and emotional toll
The repeated strangulation caused vocal cord dysfunction and breathing problems, leading to an asthma diagnosis despite no prior history. Mahe required extensive speech therapy to regain her voice. She recalled feeling vulnerable and disconnected during the hotel attack: 'When you're so far away from home, you're quite vulnerable.'
Roberts, a former restaurant owner, was convicted of 11 offences, including one count of rape, two of sexual penetration without consent, and three counts of grave and criminal assault. He was also found guilty of voyeurism for filming a third woman during sex and assaulting a second woman between February and September 2022.
Landmark legal change
After waiving her right to anonymity, Mahe campaigned for Jersey to introduce a standalone offence of non-fatal strangulation, previously treated as criminal assault. She said, 'I said, "It is attempted murder."' The new law now recognises the severity of strangulation, and Jersey has also introduced emergency domestic abuse protection orders, allowing police to ban alleged abusers from contacting victims for 72 hours, extendable by court order.
Mahe also pushed for reforms allowing victims to read their impact statements in court. Her advocacy has encouraged other women to come forward. Reflecting on her achievements, she said, 'Helping secure that change has honestly meant more to me than his sentence. It means future victims will be better protected.'
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. In the UK, call 999 in an emergency, or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline at 0808 2000 247, open 24/7.
