The video recorded after a dinner

Case summary

He was generous, attentive and always available. He said she did not need to work and offered a flat that he described as his own.

After an argument, he played a video recorded at a dinner and told her not to leave or contact her friends. The apartment turned out to be a short-term rental.

Timeline

• Month 1: met at a friend's dinner; he paid for meals and transport.
• Month 2: she moved into an apartment he arranged.
• Month 3: he began checking her phone and schedule.
• Month 4: he used a video to stop her from leaving.
• Month 5: she left with a friend and reported the threats.

The turning point

A friend noticed that she had stopped replying and called her. The friend came to the apartment and waited outside while she packed.

She saved the video, the threats and the tenancy details, then reported the case to the police.

What to remember

A home controlled by someone else can become a tool of control. Keep your own documents, money and a place to go.

If someone uses private images to keep you, stop negotiating alone. Tell a trusted person, preserve evidence and contact the police.