EXCLUSIVE: Sandbach woman calls for tougher sentencing after cheating husband spared jail
A Sanbach woman who was attacked by her husband after confronting him about his affair is calling for the courts to impose tougher sentencing on men who attack their wives or partners.
Elina Fragola says she wants other wronged women to stand together and form a bond to ensure the pattern of behaviour is stopped and women like her are helped more by the justice system.
Ms Fragola, 65, who ran the famous Fragola Italian bistro in Sandbach which is now Raffaele, caught her choirmaster boyfriend, Jack Taverner - real name Stephen Jack Kelsey - having an affair and when she confronted him at the woman's house in Sandbach, he attacked her.
As reported in the Daily Mail, Stephen Jack Kelsey was sentenced to 10 months in prison suspended for 18 months by Chester Crown Court last week (April 2) after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm.
Ms Fragola told Sandbach Nub News how she is slowly rebuilding her life and getting back on the road to recovery despite having PSTD and flashbacks to the attack.
She says she gets great comfort from her dog Oscar who is helping with her anxiety.
"It's ridiculous," said Ms Fragola.
"He will have a clean slate in 18 months time but I will live with this for the rest of my life. I live in constant fear and it never leaves my mind.
"I no longer have any confidence. He should have gone to prison. It was an horrendous attack. He could have killed me. I'm now fighting for other women in my position. This is about all women who live in fear like this."
Ms Fragola, who waited nearly two years for the case to come to court, says she has lost faith in the justice system.
In her victim impact statement in court she said: "The attack has had a profound and lasting impact on my physical health, emotional well-being and sense of safety.
"As a result of the assault, I suffered a fractured skull, a fractured nose, bruising to my eyes, nose, my thigh, arms and internal bleeding from the kicks to my stomach and concussion.
"I needed medical treatment, hospital visits and am still suffering from PSTD and even now I experience on-going pain, difficulty sleeping and some mobility issues. Since the assault, I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks.
"I would like the court to understand how deeply this has affected my life.
I hope the sentence reflects the harm caused and ensures that Stephen J Kelsey is held accountable for his crime. I want to feel safe again and be able to move forward without fear knowing justice has been done."
She added: "I have had to take time off work because of the emotional and physical effects of the assault. My confidence has suffered ..."
Ms Fragola married Kelsey, at Sandbach Town Hall in July 2016 and sold her business to help the choirmaster run his 'Can't Sing Choir' groups in Sandbach, Congleton and Alsager.
"My first husband was a BA captain who sadly died aged at 52 from Motor Neurone Disease. We were very happily married," she said.
"I did everything I could for Jack who was very musical even buying him a piano to play at home. I am devastated."
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