Stalker who sat on my shed every night locked me outside like a dog in garden – then night of terror changed everything

AS Mia Flynn sat in the back of an ambulance, with blood pouring from her head, her thoughts were remarkably clear.

After two years of abuse, stalking and harassment, she knew this attack marked the end for her and her partner, Lloyd. And that at last, she could look forward to a life without fear.

Mia suffered two years of abuse, stalking and harassment at the hands of her ex partner Lloyd Thomas sat on Mia’s shed every night to watch her every move

Lloyd Thomas, 33, was jailed in August for 18 months at Mold Crown Court.

Now, Mia, 32, from Rhyl, is speaking out for the first time to support others.

“I want other victims of to understand that it is never too late to leave,” says Mia.

“It’s so hard, when your self-confidence is shattered, to make that decision, but it is worth it.

“I put up with horrendous abuse. Lloyd constantly accused me of being unfaithful and punished me for things I’d never even done.

“He cut up my clothes, tried to lock me in the back garden, and he’d sit on my shed roof at night to spy on me.

“He knocked me unconscious in the attack but in a way, I’m grateful for it. It was a blessing in disguise because it was the final straw.

“I am rebuilding my life, looking forward to the future, and I want to support other women too.”

The couple had known each other for many years after growing up on the same street in North .

In 2023, they began after they were matched online.

Mia, a carer for people with disabilities, says: “I felt like I already knew him, because he and his family lived nearby so that was reassuring, and I really liked him too.

“He had a bad reputation, but I ignored it; I maybe thought I could change him.”

But Lloyd was possessive from the start.

“Lloyd never wanted to us to go out, he just wanted to stay at home or go drinking,” Mia recalls.

“But he didn’t like me to socialise with my friends either.

“I like to dress up when I go out, get my and done, and wear .

“He said I was doing it to impress other men, which just wasn’t true. I adored him, I’d never have been unfaithful.

“I thought he was insecure and hoped he’d learn to trust me as time went on.”

But instead, his jealousy tipped over into paranoia.

“He accused me of sleeping with lots of different men most of whom I’d never even heard of,” explains Mia.

He cut up my clothes, tried to lock me in the back garden, and he’d sit on my shed roof at night to spy on me

“He messaged and called me all the time even when I was at work.

“Once he took my phone to check my messages and smashed it on the ground in a temper.

“Another time, he tried to lock me in the back garden as punishment. I felt like a dog and it was humiliating.

“I’d never so much as looked at another man. But he just wouldn’t listen.”

She continues: “When I tried to finish it, he cut up my clothes as punishment.

“Another time he threw my clothes out of the window into the street, and another day he put them in the shower and soaked them through.

“I ended up taking him back because he wore me down. It was exhausting.”

Lloyd Thomas’ North Wales police mugshot Mia was knocked unconscious in the attack but says in a way, she’s grateful for it Mia (pictured with bruising after the attack) said the attack was the final straw The 32-year-old was terrified Lloyd was going to come back and kill her Mia (pictured after the attack in June) was taken to hospital for her injuries Mia’s head was glued and she was treated for cuts and bruises Mia had to take time off work and was in shock for days In November 2023, the windows at Mia’s home were smashed The smashed windows at Mia’s home

In November 2023, the windows at Mia’s home were smashed. were unable to charge anyone because of a lack of evidence. But Lloyd was later issued with a restraining order.

“He took no notice of the order, and he bombarded me with non-stop calls and messages,” Mia says.

“He made threats to my family. He started sitting on my shed roof at 3am so he could monitor who was leaving my house and he grilled my neighbours to check if they’d seen anyone suspicious.

“I took him back because I couldn’t take any more of it and I didn’t know what else to do. My self-esteem was so low; he made me feel worthless.”

In June this year, Mia went to see a tribute act with a girlfriend before meeting Lloyd for a drink afterwards.

She says: “He didn’t like me going anywhere without him, so he was angry by the time we met up. He had no , so I had to buy his drinks.”

He tried to lock me in the back garden as punishment. I felt like a dog and it was humiliating.

Mia Flynn32, from Rhyl

He quickly became abusive and was thrown out of the pub by security staff.

“Lloyd was banging on the window, trying to make me go outside,” she recalls.

“He even got the security staff to talk to me.

“But I was too scared. I could see how angry he was. The longer it went on, the worse he got.

“By the time I left the pub, there was no sign of him, but I was constantly checking over my shoulder on my way home.”

As Mia crossed Morrisons’ carpark, Lloyd jumped out, knocking her to the floor before kicking her unconscious.

“He pulled out her extensions and threatened her and a friend with a knife, before fleeing.

“I was out cold for a few minutes and when I came round, I was terrified he was going to come back and kill me,” she recalls.

“I managed to stagger to a nearby house and banged on the door but there was no reply. I ended up collapsing behind a parked car and dialling 999.”

Mia was taken to hospital, where her head was glued and she was treated for cuts and bruises, before she was discharged home.

I was out cold for a few minutes and when I came round, I was terrified he was going to come back and kill me

Mia Flynn32, from Rhyl

She says: “My face was swollen up and my whole body was covered with injuries. I had to take time off work. I was in shock for days.”

Lloyd was remanded but contacted Mia from .

“He insisted I was still his girlfriend, and I’d never be able to get rid of him,” she says.

“He told me the attack was my own fault, and that I got what I deserved. He even suggested I had attacked him, which was just ridiculous. He was deluded.”

Thomas was later released on bail and continued to call Mia, telling her: “I don’t care what you say, you are my bird, and you always will be. You’re lucky it didn’t end up worse. You got what you deserved. I’ll never leave you alone.”

Mia says: “I was so scared whilst he was out on bail. I couldn’t leave my house; I couldn’t go to work.

“I was terrified of leaving the house, because his family home was nearby. My family babysat me because they worried I was at risk.”

Lloyd Thomas appeared before Mold Crown in August and admitted actual bodily harm, threatening with a bladed article, and harassment.

He was jailed for 18 months and handed a 10-year protection order.

Mia says: “I feel the sentence was very lenient considering he could have killed me.

“Despite all the abuse from him, I never thought Lloyd would attack me physically, but I’m glad, looking back, that he did, because it pushed me to see him for what he is.

“I was so used to his behaviour, the control and the harassment, that I didn’t realise how bad it was.

“He did me a favour, in a strange way, with the attack, because it was a big wake up call. Now my bruises are healed, I must concentrate on recovering from the emotional scars.

“I have flashbacks each time I go past the carpark. I don’t feel safe in my own street. And I worry, when Lloyd is released, that he will come after me again.

“But I’m glad I went to , and I am proud that I stood up to him. I am learning to live without fear.”

Lloyd grilled Mia’s neighbours to check if they’d seen anyone suspicious Threats that Mia received from her ex-boyfriend Lloyd Thomas Lloyd pictured with Mia in happier times Lloyd cut up Mia’s clothes and tried to lock her in the back garden Mia feels the sentence was very lenient considering Lloyd could have killed her Mia says she was so scared whilst Lloyd was out on bail Mia and Lloyd started dating in 2023 after they were matched online