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Sophie Stevenson realised her life was in danger after her cousin was killed by her own violent partner. Kurt Miller made Sophie’s life hell by knocking her unconscious and strangling her
A woman suffered horrendous violence at the hands of her brutal partner – who threatened she’d end up dead like her cousin who was murdered in a similarly abusive relationship.
But now Sophie Stevenson has bravely spoken out on how the monster – who styled himself on UFC star Connor McGregor – strangled her during sex and forced her to clean up her own blood after he hit her.
Kurt Miller, 33, made Sophie’s life hell, throwing her in the garden in her underwear, knocking her unconscious with a brick and strangling her when they had sex. But a chance encounter with her cousin’s mum – whose daughter had been murdered by a violent partner – made Sophie realise that her own life was in danger.
She found the courage to leave and report Miller to police, and last December he was jailed for nearly seven years at Derby Crown Court after admitting strangulation, coercive control and assault. Mum of one Sophie says: “He knocked my confidence to the point where I thought it was normal. I couldn’t see a way out. I attempted suicide, I was so low.
“I want other women to know that help is out there. Nobody should live in fear. I’m rebuilding my life and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.” Sophie, 26, from Derby, met Miller on Facebook in April 2023. She says: “He thought he was very good-looking, he modelled himself on Connor McGregor, and I fell head over heels in love with him.
“But right from the start he behaved as though he was doing me a favour by dating me. I was expected to cook his favourite meal and have his bath ready when he arrived. He quickly became jealous, accusing me of sleeping with the taxi driver or the postman. He checked my phone all the time. But he made me feel as though I was the one at fault, and I started to believe it.”
In November 2023, Sophie, who has an eight-year-old daughter, defied Miller by going on a night out with a female friend. In a jealous rage he called and insisted she went to see him. She says: “I arrived at his home in the early hours and he threw a brick at me. I collapsed on the driveway and lost consciousness. When I came round he was kicking me, telling me to get off his drive.”
Sophie managed to drag herself to the road, where she called for help. She was rushed to hospital and treated for a broken nose, black eyes and bruising. She says: “I was determined to leave him but somehow he reeled me back in, insisting I was partly to blame for the attack. He wouldn’t leave me alone, I didn’t know how to get rid of him.”
The following month, at his home, he accused her of cheating and began hitting her in the face until she was covered in blood. She says: “He threw a towel at me and ordered me to clean the blood off the floor, but wouldn’t let me clean my own face with it. He treated me like an animal. When I’d cleaned it up he threw me in the garden in my underwear even though it was winter.”
Miller also strangled Sophie during sex, telling her: ‘I enjoyed watching you go there,’ after she lost consciousness for a few moments. She says: “I was terrified. I thought he was going to kill me.” In June 2023, Sophie’s second cousin, Sarah Henshaw, was killed by her ex-partner. Carpet-fitter Darren Hall, 36, murdered Sarah , 31, at her home before dumping her body miles away in an isolated layby and was later jailed for life. But heartless Miller did not even allow Sophie to attend her cousin’s wake to grieve with her family.
She described the added terror Miller put her through after the death of Sarah, who Sophie refers to as her cousin. She said: “He controlled everything I did. Sarah and I were close, and I wanted to say goodbye, but he was so jealous I wasn’t even allowed to go to her wake. He told me he’d make me kill myself and that I’d end up murdered like Sarah, buried by the side of the road.
“I felt ill, I lost two stones in weight; I was really in a bad way. I tried to take my own life because I couldn’t see a way forward.” In December 2023, Sophie bumped into Sarah’s mum – her first cousin – Lorraine, after the murder trial.
Sophie says: “At that time, I had a black eye from Kurt and Lorraine asked me what had happened. I tried to brush it off but she said: ‘You will be next. If you don’t leave him, he will kill you.’ Her words swam round my head. I knew this was the turning point, I had to find the strength to leave him.”
Sophie went to the police in March 2024 and Miller was arrested and placed on remand. In October he admitted two strangulations, five assaults and coercive and controlling behaviour. In December he was jailed for 83 months.
Sophie says: “I can’t believe I’m out of it. I feel like a different person. Lorraine came with me to the court case, and she has been an amazing support. Losing Sarah was horrific, but Lorraine saved my life that day and I hope that is a comfort to her.”
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit** www.aafda.org.uk**.
