A St Helier councillor drove home the need to tackle domestic abuse when she read a moving poem at a council meeting this week.

Former Mayor of Sutton Cllr Jean Crossby recited ‘I Got Flowers Today’, by Paulette Kelly, in full council on September 10.

It drew wide-ranging support from both Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors as they discussed Sutton’s new four-year corporate plan which was later ratified.

But Cllr Crossby, during her allotted five minutes, called on the council and relevant authorities to increase their focus on reducing rates of domestic abuse where possible in Sutton.

According to the charity Living with Abuse, domestic abuse affects one in four women, and one in six men, costs the public £23 billion per year, and has more repeat victims than any other crime - 35 assaults occur before police are called.

For more information, you can visit Not Alone in Sutton here.

Here is the poem in full:

I got flowers today!

It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night;

And he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt;

I know that he is sorry and didn’t mean to say the things he said;

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day.

Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.

It seemed like a nightmare.

I couldn't believe that it was real.

I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.

I know he must be sorry.

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

It wasn’t our anniversary or any other special day;

Last night he threw me into a wall and then started choking me;

It seemed unreal, a nightmare, but you wake up from nightmares;

And I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over—but I know he is sorry;

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

And it wasn’t Valentine’s Day or any other special day;

Last night he beat me and threatened to kill me;

Make-up and long sleeves didn’t hide the cuts and bruises this time;

I couldn’t go to work today because I didn’t want anyone to know—but I know he’s sorry;

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today!

And it wasn’t Mother’s Day or any other special day;

Last night he beat me again, and it was worse than all of the other times;

If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of the kids? What about money?

I’m afraid of him, but I’m too scared and dependent to leave him! But he must be sorry;

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today…

Today was a special day—it was the day of my funeral;

Last night he killed me;

If only I would have gathered the courage and strength to leave him;

I could have received help from the Women’s Shelter, but I didn’t ask for their help;

So I got flowers today—for the last time.