Abused 26-year-old mother's secret five-word plea to taxi driver that saved her life

Rosie Frankish managed to escape from her husband after he forcefully entered her home and horrifically abused her. The 26-year-old mother later told the court she thought "he was going to kill me" as she was covered in severe cuts, bruises, faeces and urine. However, she managed to escape by pleading with a taxi driver who then rushed her to a police station.

Following a six-hour assault by her husband, Daniel Little, who had forcefully entered her home, Rosie was dragged into a taxi, still in her pyjamas and covered in dog faeces.

Last week, Little, 34, was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison, after he pleaded guilty to assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, and false imprisonment in Liverpool Crown Court, according to the Liverpool Echo.

The couple met seven and a half years ago, in Warrington.

Rosie said: “I was pregnant and had split with the baby’s father. Daniel was eight years older and seemed to offer friendship and security. He paid me lots of compliments, he was lovely, very jokey and confident.

"When the baby came, he was really supportive and loving."

After moving in together, the couple had a child the following year. However, during the pregnancy, Daniel changed.

Despite Daniel's increasingly controlling and violent behaviour, Rosie was determined to salvage their relationship for the sake of their two children. However, in 2020, she eventually ended the relationship.

Two years later, Daniel contacted her, requesting to see the children.

Rosie was conflicted, as she did not want to deprive her children of their father, but she remained wary of him.

Rosie eventually agreed to let him spend time with their children during days out, which initially went well.

Despite the initially positive outings, Rosie began to notice that Daniel was reverting back to his old ways of possessiveness and control.

As a result, she made the decision to take a step back from allowing him to spend time with their children.

She said: “I told him he could still see the children, but someone else would be present to supervise, and not me.”

Daniel did not react well to Rosie's decision and he began to spiral out of control. This led to him being arrested for attacking a stranger over a period of days.

After his release from custody in December of last year, he went directly to Rosie's residence where she was living with their children.

She said: “I was woken about 11.30pm by a loud banging. I went down to open the back door and he barged in from the garden.

“He was telling me it was all my fault, that I taken away his family, and I would have to pay for it. I knew the attack was coming. His eyes were completely dead. I had no way of getting through to him.”

Rosie said: “He kept telling me I needed to learn my lesson. Every now and again he stopped hitting me and made me hug him, and he’d say ‘I pinkie promise I won’t hit you again’ - then he’d start hitting me, like it was all part of some sick game. It was torture.

"He picked up a full bottle of hair conditioner and tipped it all over my head, into my eyes, and then threw the bottle at me and laughed.

"The dog came upstairs, he was very frightened, he hadn’t been out for a poo because I wasn’t allowed to take him, and he pooed on the tiles. Daniel smeared the faeces right into my face, grinding it into my cheeks and my hair with a towel.

"I was so upset and frightened that I wet myself and he wouldn’t let me get changed. I thought he was going to kill me.”

After several hours, Daniel announced that he needed to return to his home to retrieve some clothes.

Rosie saw this as her chance to escape the dangerous situation.

She said: “I called him a taxi and I thought I might be able to persuade him to leave. But he booted me hard and forced me into the taxi with him.

"All through the journey, I was wondering about throwing myself out onto the road. I wanted to tell the taxi driver but wasn’t sure if he’d help me.”

Upon arrival at their destination, Daniel got out of the taxi to smoke a cigarette, and Rosie seized the opportunity to make her escape.

She says: “I knew Daniel was looking at me, expecting me to get out after him, so I said very quietly, without moving my face 'Please drive. Just go. Now.'

"The cab driver said 'Where do you want me to go?' and I saw Daniel’s hand reach for the door handle. It was like it happened in slow motion.

“I yelled, and the driver just put his foot down and we were off. I couldn’t believe it was over. He took me to the police station, and I got help.”

Rosie was taken to the hospital to receive treatment for severe cuts and bruises, including a black eye, reduced hearing in her left ear, a 10cm bruise from her shoulder to elbow, a 5cm bruise over her chest, and swelling to her head and scalp.

Following the incident, Little was arrested by the authorities.

He appeared before Liverpool Crown Court last week and pleaded guilty to charges of assault and false imprisonment.

In her impact statement, Rosie told the court: “Psychologically this has affected me. I cannot sleep properly. I feel like I cannot talk to anyone but my family. I feel vulnerable as a result.

“When I close my eyes, I can see his face from that night. I used to love being on my own but now I cannot do that.”

In mitigation, the court heard how Little is "deeply ashamed" of his behaviour and his barrister said: “He accepts that he needs to be in prison. He knows he must be punished.”