NEWPORT shooting victim Rachel Williams is appealing for donations to Women’s Aid this Christmas to support victims of domestic abuse.

Mrs Williams, 42, was shot by her estranged husband, Darren, 45, at the Carol Ann Hair Salon at Malpas Road on August 19, 2011. Mr Williams was later found hanging in woods near their Brynglas home.

At an inquest into his death at Gwent Coroner’s Court, Mrs Williams said she suffered years of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband and finally broke off the marriage when he tried to strangle her and cut his wrists on July 9, 2011.

She started divorce proceedings before the Malpas Road attack.

After the shooting, Mrs Williams had most of her left leg rebuilt following an eight-hour operation at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital.

Mrs Williams has now set up a Facebook page, Don’t Look Back, to support victims of domestic abuse; to highlight her story, which has been printed in a booklet; and to act as a platform for donations to Women’s Aid.

Already, over 800 people have liked the page and 21 families – who have been re-housed or are in refuge – will be given hampers as a result.

She said: “I’ve channelled my experience to help other people, as there’s nothing to be ashamed about. You can’t turn back time and I’ve vowed to turn a great mess into greatness. It’s about using a negative as a positive. We can all be survivors.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to use the refuge as within six weeks, my drama was over and done with it. I was fortunate to be able to stay with friends and my mother, but some people haven’t got that opportunity.

“Some women are just left with the clothes they are in as when you leave an abuser, you are off. People literally flee.”

Mrs Williams added that she has been overwhelmed by the response to the appeal, with Tesco among those to provide food for Christmas hampers.

She added: “There’s been great support for the Facebook page and I’ve written to the likes of Boots, Nandos, New Look, and M&S to see if they will get on board.

“There’s only so much we can fit in hampers so we’re also looking to put together cinema vouchers, as being in the refuge day in, day out can be depressing.

“We’re very open-minded on targets, as people are not in the financial position they were seven years ago since the recession. If we even got £1 from every Facebook follower, that would be well over £800.”

For more information on the Don’t Look Back appeal and how to donate, contact dontlookback2014rw@yahoo.com. The Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dont-Look-Back/1493943347548967.