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World
November 20, 2013
Story by Ian Horswill News Limited Network
A WOMAN waived her right to anonymity to ensure her ex-husband’s name could be published as he was jailed to 24 years for sex and violence charges.
The three charges of sexual violation were against Susan Cochrane, the ex-wife of a prominent New Zealand man, Allan John Titford, who last month had unsuccessfully run for mayor of Far North District Council, which is based in Kaikohe, on New Zealand’s north island.
In her victim impact statement read to the Whangarei High Court today, Ms Cochrane said she was kept as a slave by Titford for 22 years, New Zealand Herald reported.
“I didn’t have the guts to wake up to his violence earlier,” she said.
A doctor prescribed her antidepressants in 1995 and that her ex-husband robbed her kids of their childhood and she feels guilty of not protecting them.
“I never had the chance to share the special bond with my kids. I am a victim of violence but more importantly my children became victims. Unfortunately I can’t give their childhood back,” she said in court today.
“I don’t hate him but hate myself for what he did to me. My life was his to do as he wanted. For once I don’t have to worry about getting punished. You held me prisoner for 22 years. Now it’s your turn to feel what we went through.”
Titford was convicted by a jury on 14 charges of assault with a weapon, seven of assault, four of male assaults female, three of assault on a child, three of sexual violation, two of arson, and single charges of using a document with intention to defraud, threatening to kill, assault using a weapon, perjury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and discharging a firearm.