Annabelle Boucher, 48, endured years of coercive and controlling behaviour from her husband, David Rogers, 61, before ultimately having to pay more than £100,000 to secure a divorce. Despite the abuse she suffered, Annabelle was forced to hand over £75,000 to Rogers in addition to £30,000 in her own legal fees to escape the marriage.
Annabelle, who owns a riding school and lives in Chiselborough, Somerset, initially welcomed Rogers into her family home at the start of their relationship. However, as the marriage progressed, she felt increasingly trapped and imprisoned in her own house due to his controlling behaviour.
She described the abuse as both physical and psychological, including assaults, constant monitoring, and controlling actions that left her living in fear. The abuse escalated to the point where she feared that Rogers might kill her.
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After confiding in a friend, Rogers was arrested in February 2024. He pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour at Taunton Crown Court in April 2026 and received a 20-month suspended prison sentence alongside a five-year restraining order. Despite the conviction, Annabelle explained that the legal outcome could not erase the financial and emotional damage she had endured.
Annabelle spoke about the struggle of trying to leave, particularly as Rogers was living in her family home where she ran her business and raised her children. Multiple attempts to have him leave were met with threats and intimidation. “He said he would rip it all down-as in my life and physically my home. There was no way of living. I felt imprisoned,” she said.
The divorce was finalised in September 2025 while the criminal proceedings were ongoing. Although Annabelle and Rogers had maintained separate financial arrangements during their marriage, she was ultimately forced to make a lump sum payment to him and cover substantial legal costs. The financial settlement left her facing significant consequences on top of the emotional toll.
Annabelle has called for changes to divorce laws to better reflect circumstances where criminal behaviour contributes to the breakdown of a marriage. She described having to settle financially with her abuser as a “betrayal” and urged reforms to ensure that victims of domestic abuse can leave without facing crippling financial burdens.
Reflecting on the relationship, Annabelle said Rogers had initially seemed perfect when they met in 2017, quickly forming a bond with her children and moving into her home. But his controlling nature became apparent just before their wedding in 2019 and worsened dramatically after their marriage.
Among the incidents she recounted was a frightening episode where Rogers pulled the handbrake while she was driving at 45mph, and another where he assaulted her over a pizza order he disliked. The abuse included frequent monitoring of her movements and an atmosphere where she feared triggering violent outbursts.
Annabelle’s experience illustrates how coercive and controlling abuse can be as damaging as physical violence, often leaving victims feeling trapped and isolated. Since escaping the marriage, she has found support from a new partner and is rebuilding her life, but the ordeal has left a lasting impact.
She urged others facing similar abuse to seek help, emphasising that police protection is available even if there are no visible injuries. “You don’t have to have bruises to show. You can stay in your own home and police can protect you,” she said.
Annabelle hopes that her story will highlight the need for reforms to ensure that victims of abuse do not face further hardship when ending abusive marriages.