Dizzee Rascal ex opens up about ‘traumatic’ ordeal after ‘years of abuse’ & says: ‘Wealth & status can’t silence women’
DIZZEE Rascal's ex has bravely opened up about her "traumatic" ordeal after the rapper was convicted of attacking her.
Cassandra Jones, 33, said "wealth and status" cannot be used to silence women after claiming she suffered "years of abuse".
She spoke out after Dizzee, real name Dylan Mills, was found guilty of shoving his partner of nine years to the ground after a "chaotic" row.
Cassandra said she "just wants to heal" and focus on looking after the two children she shares with Mills.
And she revealed the verdict has "brought me no joy, but it does help me to look back on what I experienced".
The mum, who shared the statement with various victim support groups, added: "Dylan and I were together for a long time, and I loved him very much.
"He is the father of our two children. Last year I finally left him for good, after experiencing what I now recognise to be prolonged domestic abuse.
"I have been receiving support from specialist domestic abuse services since last year, and that has helped me process my experiences and move forward.
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"None of this has been easy.
"I understand why so many women drop out of the criminal justice system; this has been really traumatic for me. But I am lucky enough to have had support from the police, my family and friends, and specialist organisations.
"This verdict today shows that wealth and status cannot be used to silence women."
Cassandra also shared the harrowing figure that one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lifetime.
She added: "I hope I can now move on with my life. If the things you have read have resonated with you, I'd urge you to seek support. It's available."
RAPPER ATTACK
Her powerful comments came as furious Mills snatched a camera from a press photographer outside the court and smashed it on the road.
On the night of the attack, Mills, 37, "barged" into Cassandra's house before banging his head on a fridge three times while holding his son.
He was accused of "pressing his forehead" against his ex during the row, and shoving her to the ground.
Cassandra began filming Mills - who was "screaming and shouting" before he snatched both her and her mother's phone away.
The rapper had been “confrontational” when he picked his daughter up on the day of the attack, the court heard.
Cassandra then called him when he was late dropping her back home and Mills began "swearing" at her, it was said.
When he arrived, she told Mills he couldn't come in but he allegedly "barged her out the way to make his way into the house with his son in his arms”.
'I'M THE AGGRESSOR'
The rapper then started "screaming and shouting" in front of Cassandra's mother, Dawn Kirk, while in the kitchen as they tried to grab the youngster from him.
Mills tried twisting the horror and blaming the mother of his children for the attack - claiming she had left a scratch on his arm.
But it emerged that when he was arrested, he told officers: "I am the aggressor".
Cassandra wept previously as she told the court that Mills grew “very angry” and “was out of control”.
She said he “nearly dropped” their son, adding: “He was screaming for me and I said ‘Please just give me him’.”
The mum also said he pushed her around the room with his forehead but insisted it was not a "headbutt".
She said he “barged” her and she “fell to the floor” suffering bruising and grazing her left arm.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Cassandra added: “He was charging around, in and out of the house. He was out of control."
She also described him as a "ticking time bomb".
Mills was awarded an MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours last year for services to music.
He became one of Britain's most successful rap artists after the release of his first solo album, Boy in da Corner, when he was just 18.
The Mercury Prize winner released six more hit albums and had a string of number one singles - including Bonkers and Dance Wiv Me.
He won Best British Solo Artist at the Brits and in 2012 he performed during the opening ceremony at the London Olympics.
Dizzee delivered food parcels to under-privileged children in London’s East End where he grew up during lockdown last year.
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He recently headlined South Facing Festival in Crystal Palace.
Mills will be sentenced at Croydon Magistrates' Court on April 8.
