Chloe Holland, a 23-year-old from Portsmouth, England, tragically ended her own life after enduring a year-long ordeal of coercive control from her former partner, Marc Masterton.
Chloe Holland started her relationship with Masterton in early 2022, having known him since their school days. According to her mother, Sharon, the early phase of their relationship was filled with happiness and excitement.
Control and Isolation
As the relationship progressed, Chloe experienced increasing control and abuse. “He controlled who she spoke to, what friends she had on Facebook, he controlled her phone, I would say he controlled her finances, he controlled her freedom – and he also controlled her seeing her son,” Sharon told The BBC.
Chloe’s appearance and demeanor also changed drastically. “She stopped wearing her fake eyelashes, her makeup, her hair was tied up, her clothes were more covered up – she just didn’t look herself,” Sharon said.
As well as controlling behavior, Chloe also suffered incidents of physical abuse at the hands of Masterton.
Temporary Escape and Tragic End
In August 2022, Chloe managed to leave Masterton and began to rebuild her life. However, by October, they were back in contact.
Following a final disagreement, Chloe made an attempt on her own life, leading to her hospitalization and subsequent death in March 2023.
“I just wish I’d known everything that was going on because I could have done more,” Sharon said.
Seeking Justice and Change
Before her death, Chloe had taken steps to report Masterton for domestic abuse, resulting in his conviction for coercive and controlling behavior. He received a 41-month prison sentence.
Sharon believes this punishment does not fit the crime and is advocating for stricter laws. She has started a petition to recognize coercive control resulting in suicide as manslaughter.
Community and Legislative Response
Sharon’s efforts have garnered support within the community and from Portsmouth City Council.
“Perpetrators who are that controlling don’t just stop after a woman has died or they’ve left the relationship, they go on to perpetrate again – so it’s really important we hold those perpetrators to account,” noted Dr. Shonagh Dillon of domestic abuse charity, Aurora New Dawn.
The petition needs 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in Parliament.
Words of Warning and Hope
Sharon advises vigilance for those worried about loved ones in similar situations. “Always stay in contact and notice if they go silent. Notice if they’re not answering messages and always be there for them and report it,” she urged [via ITV]. Through her grief, Sharon fights for a change that could save lives and prevent future tragedies.
Featured image: Chloe Holland. Credit: Sharon Holland / HotSpot Media.
