My ex was Simon Cowell’s bodyguard – but behind closed doors he beat me & threatened to slit my throat if I refused sex
HEARING John Hookings boast about the celebrities he had acting as a body guard for, Stevie-Sara Russell was sure this was just the man to keep her safe.
Protection officer John Hookings, who escorted a string of celebrities, including Simon Cowell, Johnny Depp, and the casts of TOWIE and Strictly and showered Stevie with gifts and compliments.
But on the same day Stevie announced she was expecting their first child together, Hookings hit her because she refused to sleep with him.
Throughout her pregnancy, he insisted that they bathed together every night. If she did not sleep with him every day, he would lose his temper and he later threatened to slit her throat.
Hookings, 48, was convicted of criminal damage, assault by beating and six counts of breaching a non-molestation order.
Last week he was handed a 19-month jail sentence suspended for two years and a ten year restraining order, six months of which will be electronically monitored.
Mum of four Stevie, 43, from Chelmsford, Essex, says: “I am so glad it is over. John wore me down with false promises until we had moved in together and I was pregnant, and then his true colours emerged.
“The violence was horrible, but the mental abuse was worse; he would tell me I was too old to wear a short skirt, too fat to wear a low-cut top, and gradually, my confidence was destroyed.
“It took a great deal of strength to see this through the court, but I want others to know that you can do it – and you will feel free when it’s over.
“Domestic abuse is appalling but there is a way out, and it could save your life.”
Stevie met John Hookings in 2017 through their children; her teenage daughter was friendly with his teenage son at school.
She says: “John asked me on a date, but I was happily single, I had three kids, and I was busy working as a hairdresser and beautician.
“He kept persuading me, sending lovely text messages, he ordered flowers and an Easter egg to be delivered to my work, he bought me a teddy bear.
“He worked as a close-protection officer and invited me to meet the cast of TOWIE. He said he’d worked with Kim Kardashian’s ex, Johnny Depp and a string of reality TV personalities.
“He was so persistent, and all my friends and colleagues were urging me to give him a chance.”
The couple began dating in April 2017 but that July, Hookings announced his work was drying up and he would have to give up his rented home.
Stevie says: “It was too soon for us to live together but again, he talked me into it, saying it wouldn’t be for long, and how much it would help me out.”
But while living together, Hookings’ behaviour changed.
Stevie says: “Previously, when I saw my friends, he’d be all for it.
“The next time, he insisted he’d pick me up at the end of the night. The third time, he criticised my outfit and reminded me I wasn’t as young as I used to be. The fourth time, he just stopped me from going out completely.
“It was clever; a gradual chipping away at my confidence. He’d tell me I didn’t suit blonde hair, or that I was too fat for a dress, or that I was mutton dressed as lamb.
“He didn’t like me going anywhere and I became alienated from my friends and family. Very soon, it was just me and him.”
In November, Stevie fell pregnant with the couple’s first child together.
She says: “We were flying to Venice for the weekend and so the timing felt perfect. But I was sick in the hotel and when I refused to have sex, John slapped me across the face.
“He was filled with remorse afterwards and blamed trauma from his own childhood and I felt I had to give him a chance.”
But at home, the relationship deteriorated further.
Stevie says: “I was the only one working but John insisted on coming to my clients’ homes to keep an eye on me, which was very awkward. He didn’t let me out of his sight.
“I had bad morning sickness, I could only eat polos, but he expected sex every night, or he’d be in a terrible mood.
“He insisted we bathe together every night, which had started off as a romantic element in our relationship but now it became a chore, and I hated it.”
Their daughter was born in July 2018, but Hookings did not allow Stevie to breastfeed in public because he did not want other men to see her body.
On their daughter’s first birthday and christening, he hit Stevie across the face with a mobile phone.
She says: “He would belittle me, telling me previous partners had never really loved me, and he picked fault with my appearance all the time. I felt worthless.”
Domestic abuse - how to get help
DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence.
Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship:
- Emotional abuse – Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse – gaslighting – being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to
- Threats and intimidation – Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you
- Physical abuse – This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten.
- Sexual abuse – Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent.
If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers:
- The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night
- Men who are being abused can call Respect Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244
- Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428
- If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999
Remember, you are not alone.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime.
Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse.
At the start of 2020, she ended the relationship, but the couple had contact for the sake of their daughter.
Stevie says: “When I picked my daughter up one day, John hit the roof because I’d been out with my older children and their dad, which was purely platonic.
“He hit me across the head with a bath seat, smashed my head against the car and ripped out my false nails. He was trying to pull my clothes off so I could ‘show myself off to other men’.”
Stevie was granted a non-molestation order, but Hookings continued to wear her down.
She says: “If I didn’t pick the phone up, he’d text: ‘Pull your knickers back up and reply.’ It was a barrage of disgusting abuse.
“I tried to maintain a relationship for the sake of our daughter, but it was impossible.
“He smashed an outside light, he smashed my bathroom taps and a chandelier light fitting. Every time I saw him, he’d destroy something else.”
In March 2021, Stevie spoke to the police and Hookings was arrested.
He appeared before a Nightingale Court last November and admitted assault, criminal damage, and six breaches of a non-molestation order.
Last week, at Chelmsford Crown, he was handed 19 months in prison, suspended for two years and handed a 10-year restraining order.
Stevie says: “In arguments, John always laughed at me and said I was such a victim.
“I feel I’ve had the last laugh now and I’ve shown I’m a survivor too.”