A rape victim who was subjected to an 11-year campaign of abuse by her partner has waived her right to anonymity to tell a weekly newspaper about her ordeal.

Kirsty Screene has spoken to the Kent Messenger and its KM Group sister channel KMTV in the hope that others will avoid the same fate as her, after her boyfriend Jamie Taylor was jailed for 23 years.

Taylor, 42, was found guilty at Canterbury Crown Court of 30 offences including rape, sex abuse, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice after subjecting her to a campaign of brutal and humiliating attacks – many including the use of a gun and a baseball bat to threaten her.

Thirty-year-old Miss Screene’s family approached the Messenger after the verdict about an interview, which she gave to “warn others of the dangers of being abused and to encourage others to speak out”.

KM Group editorial director Ian Carter said: “Our Canterbury court reporter Paul Hooper had been closely following the story. After the verdict, we were approached by members of Kirsty’s family saying she wanted to talk.

“It was important we handled the story sensitively, but we were also on a tight deadline as we only had two hours until the Kent Messenger print slot.

“The team did a great job of co-ordinating coverage so we were able to get the legal waiver signed, arrange for a full KMTV package and supply words and images for print and online in a very short space of time.

“Kirsty’s bravery in speaking out provided some really powerful content.”