DOMESTIC violence victim Rachel Williams has released graphic pictures of her gunshot injuries to encourage other victims to speak out.

Ms Williams nearly died in August 2011, after her estranged husband Darren went to the Newport hairdressers where she worked, shot her, and later killed himself.

The attack took place at the Carol Ann Hair Salon on Malpas Road six weeks after they split up.

Ms Williams, who has since remarried, said: “When I look back I wasn’t aware of the help available to domestic abuse victims.

“Now I know of the help available and I just want to raise as much publicity as possible for other victims.

“One of the ways I’m doing that is by showing pictures of my injuries.”

The 44-year-old also said she “makes no apology” for releasing the graphic pictures.

“I released an image of my injury from a gun shot, where most of my shin was lost and only my knee cap was salvaged,” she added.

“I believe that speaking openly like this has, and will, help a lot of people.

“Victims need to know that they should not put up with abuse.

“ I want them to know that there is light and a new life at the end of the tunnel.”

Since the attack, Ms Williams has been involved in several campaigns and petitions tackling domestic violence and abusive relationships.

One of the campaigns Mrs Williams supports is a campaign called Drive, which aims to give men who pose a high risk to their partners one-on-one support to change past behaviour.

“There are lots of organisations that I belong to,” said Ms Williams. “These include Drive, which is going well.

“A petition, which we plan on sending to Theresa May, calls on the prime minister to review licenses given to perpetrators of domestic violence and make sure victims are protected.

“Lots of people have supported it so far and we hope many more will too.”

Ms Williams has also joined a campaign by Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, which produced a film on tackling abusive relationships.

It centred around her story.

It also mentioned Ms Williams’ son, Jack, who killed himself five weeks after the attack and his father’s suicide.

At the time, Jack’s inquest heard he wrote a text message to his dad days before he died saying he wished to see him soon.

The 16-year-old was found hanged in Brynglas Woods on September 26, 2011, near to where the ashes of his dad were scattered.

To support the petition, which calls on the prime minister to review licenses to perpetrators of domestic violence, visit goo.gl/yfmVSN

While the pictures used here have been published before, we have chosen not to publish the pictures newly released by Rachel Williams because of their highly graphic nature.