A WOMAN is planning to run in the York marathon for a domestic abuse charity after it helped her turn her life around.

Laura Pulleyn, whose ex-partner was convicted last year of harassment and then recently of breaching a restraining order, said York IDAS (Independent Domestic Abuse Services) had supported her in 'every step of her journey.'

The York mother-of-two said: "Without them, I daren't think where I might be. Because of them, I am who I am today.

"They helped me with everything from dealing with the police and restraining orders to holding my hand when I cried."

Laura, 27, also told how running had proved her salvation during desperately difficult times, which at one stage led to her being admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition.

"As dark as my story is, somewhere along the way I found a pair of trainers, laced them up and decided to run," she said.

"It's where I found my strength and myself. It's my escape. It's how I kept my sanity. That's why I choose to run for a charity that saved me."

She spoke out after magistrates were told recently how her ex-partner, Michael Francisco Hall, had breached a restraining order by trying to use the Jeremy Kyle Show to contact her.

Hall, 31, of Fishergate, was prohibited from contacting her by a restraining order issued by York Crown Court last April following a conviction for harassment.

The court heard how he had told her to jump off a bridge, swore at her in the street and had sent her abusive messages, which he accepted had alarmed and distressed her. He also accepted repeatedly approaching her in the street and her place of work and taking drugs.

York magistrates heard recently how after the restraining order was made, he contacted the makers of the show hoping they could help him arrange access to their children.

His solicitor said he had no intention of breaching the order but thought the show could provide legal advice, and he had since been diagnosed with depression. Hall was sentenced to an eight-week curfew between 7pm and 6am, and ordered to pay costs of £180 and a victim surcharge of £60.

Laura said that luckily, she had a family who stood by her and kept her strong. "Some people do not have that blessing," she said. "They put a roof over my head, clothes on my back.

"I want to say thanks to my amazing family for every single moment of support - my mum for pouring me wine and mopping my tears, my sisters for sharing their clothes when I had nothing but a carrier bag to my name and making me smile again and for being the best possible aunties my little girls could have, and my daughters for being the reason I kept breathing."

She also thanked her grandmother, who had loved her and her children unconditionally, and her father, who had helped raise her daughters and come to every court hearing. "Thanks for picking up the pieces, never questioning me and never once doubting me," she added.

She said she had run in the York marathon two years ago for herself -to prove she could accomplish something impossible. "This time, this 26 miles are for you all!"

* To sponsor Laura, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/lpulleyn/