The Beginning of a Toxic Relationship

• 💡 Rob Parks met Victoria Breeden at university, and their relationship quickly became a whirlwind romance, with Victoria actively pursuing Rob.
• ⚠️ Early signs of control emerged as Victoria became demanding about Rob's time with friends and family, often feigning illness to keep him close.
• 🧠 Rob, young and inexperienced, was drawn into a dynamic of coercive control, feeling guilty for not being constantly available to Victoria.

Years of Manipulation and False Illnesses

• 🎭 Victoria frequently experienced debilitating abdominal pains and headaches, leading to numerous medical visits, but no underlying condition was ever diagnosed.
• 💔 Rob felt compelled to provide constant emotional support, checking in multiple times a day, which he recognized as abnormal but felt powerless to change.
• 💡 The couple moved to Cornwall, and for a brief period, Victoria's symptoms lessened when she had Rob's undivided attention, but they resurfaced when he pursued his postgraduate studies.
• 🩺 A consultant suggested that having a baby might alleviate Victoria's undiagnosable pain, a suggestion Rob found alarming given the state of their relationship.

The Escalation to Violence and Legal Battles

• 👶 Victoria and Rob had a daughter, Grace, which initially strengthened their bond but also led Rob to re-evaluate his future and desire a better life for his child, creating friction with Victoria.
• 💔 After 10 years together, Rob decided to leave Victoria, initiating a difficult five-year custody battle involving six judgments and three court cases.
• 🔥 On New Year's Day 2014, an arson attack occurred at Rob's car, with police receiving a call from Rob's number reporting the incident before it happened, suggesting a coordinated effort.
• 📱 Rob began receiving threatening texts and calls, including accusations of drug dealing and pedophilia, intensifying his fear for his safety and his daughters'.

The Hitman Plot and Victoria's Downfall

• 🕵️‍♂️ Police investigation into the arson pointed towards Victoria and her second husband, Wayne Wood, who confessed to setting the car on fire at Victoria's suggestion.
• 📞 In 2019, Rob received a call from police informing him that Victoria had approached six different men about hiring a hitman to kill him.
• 🎙️ A recording made by Victoria's then-boyfriend, Graham Wall, captured Victoria discussing the price and methods for hiring a hitman to murder Rob.
• ⚖️ Victoria was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder, with evidence including the recording, past solicitations to murder, and financial records showing large sums of cash.
• 😔 Despite attempts to feign illness and avoid court, Victoria Breeden was found guilty on four counts of solicitation to murder and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison.

A Life Reclaimed

• ✨ Rob now lives with his partner Jane and his two daughters, advocating for male victims of domestic abuse and sharing his story to offer hope to others.
• 🧠 He emphasizes the importance of asking "what if you didn't have to live like this?" as a catalyst for change and regaining autonomy.
• 📚 Rob's book, "Married to the Black Widow," details his experiences with coercive control, standing up to an abuser, and maintaining family life through extreme adversity.