Bipolar Mum Journey

As many of you know, I’m one of those women who snapped. It cost me a 2.5-year prison sentence. Reactive abuse led to a serious charge, grievous bodily harm with intent. But you already know my story.

Today, I want to talk about my friend Kim another woman who reached her breaking point. I think of her often, especially when I remember my time in prison. We were sentenced on the same day at Cambridge Crown Court.

Kim got 14 years for manslaughter. She’d been in a toxic, violent relationship for years. One night, like many before, things escalated. But this time, she couldn’t take it anymore. She grabbed a knife and stabbed her partner. It wasn’t his heart like I first thought, it was his neck. One blow. He died quickly.

I don’t think Kim ever fully came to terms with what happened. She’d been mentally worn down after years of abuse. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was also autistic, she hated change and didn’t care to be around people too much. But I understood her straight away. Others were intimidated by her, but I wasn’t. I saw past the hard shell and into her wounded heart. I knew she didn’t set out to kill him. I knew what it was like to sit in a police cell in a boiler suit, not knowing if the person you hurt would live or die.

Kim was a mother and a grandmother. She missed her grandkids terribly. I could see the pain in her eyes. Remand is brutal it gives you too much time to think, to worry.

One day, while we were playing bingo on the wing, she came back from the gardens. She stormed in, annoyed that we’d started without her. She didn’t get that there wasn’t a set time. She got upset and marched off to her cell. I followed her in. I always called her Kimmy, that name softened her. It gave her comfort. I explained there were still a few games left and that it was better to join late than not at all. I reminded her we were all on edge, it was a tough time of year. She came back out, played the last few rounds, and even cracked a smile.

I really cared about Kimmy. She was strong, intimidating and even built like a brick shit house but to me, she was the BFG. Gentle deep down.

She didn’t set out to kill that night. It was a reaction, a snap decision made in chaos. She paid a huge price, years away from her loved ones, never to be free again.

Kimmy died not long ago. Breast cancer went undetected while she was in prison. By the time they found it, it was too late. She was taken to hospital on compassionate leave and died a few weeks later. Another life lost to the failures of the criminal justice system.

Rest in peace, Kimmy. We’ll keep advocating in your honour.