My TikTok true crime videos gave me the confidence to report my abusive partner to the police: Mother, 34, reveals how violent boyfriend she met in lockdown strangled her and kicked her puppy - until she handed over a bank of evidence that saw him jailed
- MMA fighter Karl Draper has been jailed for two years at Liverpool Crown Court
- His victim Bekah Smith has told of her ordeal and what made her take action
A TikTok true crime video poster and mother has revealed how she helped jail a violent boyfriend she met during lockdown who strangled her and kicked her puppy.
Bekah Smith, 34, started her online channel last May, narrating real-life crime stories for her 54,000 followers - and says making the videos helped her realise how she was being abused by partner Karl Draper.
She grew increasingly concerned after spotting similarities between her situation and the domestic abuse stories she was sharing on TikTok and realised the extent of her treatment by MMA fighter Draper, 23.
Ms Smith says the coercive control began shortly after he moved into her home in Kirkby, Liverpool, in December 2020.
He began to stop her going out, monitored her social media and even kicked her puppy in April 2021 until it 'yelped in pain', she says.
Karl Draper (left) has been jailed for domestically abusing ex-partner Bekah Smith, right
TikTok true crime poster Bekah Smith shared pictures of her injuries with police
Draper, 23, admitted five counts of ABH and one of coercive control at Liverpool Crown Court
The relationship turned physically violent after she fell pregnant in February 2022 when Draper strangled her until she thought she was would have a miscarriage.
He later attacked her shortly after she had given birth in April 2022, causing her C-section scar to burst open.
Posting online eventually gave her the courage to go to the police and she kept videos and recordings of the assaults to show them.
Draper, from Liverpool, pleaded guilty to five counts of ABH and one charge of coercive control at Liverpool Crown Court in February this year.
He was jailed for two years last month and given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting her.
Content creator Ms Smith said: 'I think my TikTok account saved my life. I always avoided doing domestic violence stories - I think I knew deep down it was because I was in one.
'But making the videos really gave me the confidence to look at my own relationship.'
She met Draper through mutual friends online during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in early December 2020.
The pair exchanged numbers and began texting, before meeting up a few weeks later.
Ms Smith thought he was a 'nice guy' and the relationship progressed quickly as Draper moved into her flat - but she says the 'coercive and controlling' behaviour began soon after they started living together.
Bekah Smith, pictured with her baby, has spoken out about the abuse she suffered
Bekah Smith, pictured with MMA fighter Karl Draper, realised the domestic abuse she was suffering while posting TikTok videos about other true crime stories
She said: 'He was horrendous from the moment he moved in - there were so many red flags. He isolated me from everyone and stopped me going out.
'He would monitor my social media and not let me post things. My friends and family didn't know how bad it was - I didn't realise either.'
Things turned violent in April 2021 when, shortly after kicking the pet dog, he grabbed Ms Smith by the throat and punched a hole in the wall.
She found she was pregnant in September that year, but Draper accused her of cheating and throttled her again - throwing her onto the bed.
The following February, she tried to end their relationship and Draper lashed out - strangling her until she 'unable to breathe' and 'thought she would 'die'.
She said: 'I was constantly on edge, but I felt emotionally blackmailed into staying with him.
'I lost a baby before and I was petrified I'd have a miscarriage when he attacked me.
'I often made excuses to go to hospital for check-ups so I could get away from him and check the baby was okay.'
Their baby arrived prematurely on March 21, 2022, by C-section and spent several days in the neonatal ward.
Bekah Smith suffered injuries at the hands of Karl Draper who she met during lockdown
She handed officers a bank of evidence including photos and video recordings of his threats
Ms Smith hoped they could focus on the child, but Draper lashed out at her five days after giving birth - and later that month he sent her a voice note threatening that she would 'end up in the morgue'.
She said: 'He pushed me so hard I fell and opened my C-section scar. I was in so much pain.
'I had to go back for antibiotic cream and get the wound re-dressed - it's left a large scar. I didn't have the courage to tell the midwife it was because of him.'
She has told how she always had an 'interest in crime' and decided to create her TikTok account, with the name @itzbekahsmithnew, last May.
She began filming and posting video content of herself narrating UK crime stories such as the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and killer nurse Lucy Letby.
Ms Smith said: 'He didn't like me doing the videos. He could see me gaining followers and gaining more confidence.
'I realised I was like these women I share stories about - it really clicked for me.'
She found the courage to leave Draper last September, but described how he climbed into her home through a window and threatened to hurt himself.
She called the police and was and he was quickly arrested with the photos she had taken of her injuries.
She described how Draper also kicked her pet dog which 'yelped in pain'
Draper was jailed for two years last month at Liverpool Crown Court
He was given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting victim Bekah Smith
These pictures, along with voice recordings, were used in evidence in the case against him.
She said: 'The sentencing was disappointing. But I feel fortunate.
'He took my whole life away from me and I'm finally hoping to get some closure.
'I'm doing more TikToks - I am doing this so that no other woman will have to endure what I have had to endure.'
