A true crime addict realised she was being abused by her partner by making TikTok videos. Bekah Smith, 34, started her TikTok channel in May 2023, where she narrates crime stories for her 38.3k followers.
But she grew concerned after spotting similarities between her situation and the domestic abuse stories she was sharing on TikTok. The mum soon realised she was being terrorised by partner of three-years, MMA fighter, Karl Draper, 23.
Bekah claims the coercive control began shortly after Draper moved into her home in, Kirkby, Liverpool - in December 2020. He began to stop her going out, monitoring her social media, and even kicked her puppy in April 2021 until it “yelped in pain”, she says.
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. On one occasion, he attacked 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. Karl Anthony Draper, of Liverpool, pleaded guilty to five counts of ABH and one charge of coercive control at Liverpool Crown Court in February 2024.
He was jailed for two years in March 2024 at Liverpool Crown Court and given a five-year restraining order banning him from contacting her. Bekah, a content creator, 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.''
Bekah met Draper through mutual friends online during the national lockdown in early December 2020. The pair exchanged numbers and began texting, before meeting-up a few weeks later.
Bekah thought he was a “nice guy” and the relationship moved quickly as Draper moved into her flat. However, Bekah claimed the “coercive and controlling” behaviour began soon into they living together.
She said: “He 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 towards Bekah in April 2021, shortly after kicking the dog, he grabbed her by the throat and punched a hole in the wall. In September 2021, Bekah discovered she was pregnant, but Draper accused her of cheating and throttled her again – throwing her onto the bed.
On another occasion, in February 2022, Bekah tried to end their relationship and Draper lashed out – strangling her until she “unable to breathe” and ''thought she would “die”. Bekah 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 ok."
Their baby arrived prematurely on 21 March 2022 by c-section and spent a few days in the neonatal ward. Bekah hoped they could focus on the child, but Draper lashed out at her five days after giving birth.
Later that month, he sent her a voice note and threatened 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.”
Bekah always had an “interest in crime” and decided to create her TikTok account in May 2023. She began filming and posting video content of herself narrating UK crime stories like the disappearance of Madeleine McCann and Lucy Letby.
Bekah 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.”
Bekah found the courage to leave Draper in September 2023, but he climbed in her 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, along with the voice recordings, were used in evidence in the case against him.
Karl Anthony Draper pleaded guilty to five counts of ABH and one charge of coercive control at Liverpool Crown Court in February 2024. He was jailed for two years and handed a restraining order banning him from contacting Bekah for five years in March 2024.
Bekah is still posting on her TikTok page called @itzbekahsmithnew where she has gathered 38.7k followers. Bekah said: "The sentencing was disappointing, but doing the true I know it's hard to get one for domestic violence.
"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've even got something in the mix with BBC Three with my channel.
“I am doing this so that no other woman will have to endure what I have had to endure."
https://www.tiktok.com/@itzbekahsmithnew?_t=8jUp65qZT8q&_r=1
