The family of Holly Bramley, who was murdered by her husband Nicholas Metson at their home in Lincoln in March 2023, are speaking out about the abuse she suffered in the hope of preventing similar tragedies. In an interview with the BBC, Holly’s mother Annette described how she could see the warning signs of abuse in her daughter’s relationship, but Holly, enamoured with a man who was deeply manipulative and dangerous, could not see what was happening. “To her, I guess, he was the love of her life,” Annette said.
The family had early doubts about Metson. Holly’s brother discovered that he had a conviction for sharing explicit photos of a previous partner. Metson claimed it was someone else’s offence and convinced Holly of his innocence. He went on to isolate her from her family and friends, forbidding her from contacting them via social media. At one point, Holly reported Metson to the police for killing her pets, but he had convinced her to say that she had killed them. The family feared for her safety.
Det Ch Insp Rachael Cox, the police lead for domestic abuse, said: “We are indebted to Annette. Despite her grief, she is determined to work with us to help us reach those experiencing domestic abuse. She is an inspiration and a reminder of why we do this job.” From Thursday, social media posts tagged #ForHolly will highlight Holly’s experience and signpost help for victims of domestic abuse.
The family hope to give Holly a positive legacy and help people remember her not just as a victim but as the loving young woman she was. As part of the campaign, the next six weeks will focus on several topics, such as Clare’s Law, Red Flags, domestic abuse specialist services and safe spaces to seek help without fear of abusers looking over one’s shoulder. The hope is that the campaign will help people recognise abuse in others and offer help to those experiencing domestic abuse
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