DV survivor confronts 'absolute monster' who raped and tormented her

A domestic and sexual violence survivor has bravely confronted her attacker in court, labelling him a monster for the damage he had inflicted on her body and her life.

Kellie Franklin stood at the lectern in South Australia's District Court and detailed how her former partner, Joshua Armstrong-Leckstrom, had raped and tormented her during a regime of harm spanning more than six years, between 2018 and 2023.

In her victim impact statement, she outlined the mental and emotional damage, including ongoing night and day terrors, and hyper-vigilance which was "off the charts".

"I will never work again, or walk alone again," she said.

"I would like to see Josh behind bars for the rest of my life, however long that may be."

"I won't let you be the end of my story and when I walk out that door today, I will be striving to be better and happier … to live a less fearful life because the monster you are is behind bars."

Ms Franklin told the court her many injuries included facial fractures, a hematoma in her chest and cigarette burns "so clear on my skin" which remained "a constant reminder of the torture" the 42-year-old inflicted upon her.

She said Armstrong-Leckstrom had instilled such fear, she made the heartbreaking decision to exclude her children from her life in a bid to keep them safe.

Outside court, she said standing up to her abuser and holding him accountable meant "everything".

"Today was me empowering myself and making myself worthy," she said.

"It was the most scariest thing I've ever had to do in my life, but it was worth it. He's a monster, an absolute monster."

The court heard the abuse occurred while she was also battling cancer and included an instance where Armstrong-Leckstrom punched her at the site of her mastectomy.

At trial earlier this year, Armstrong-Leckstrom was found guilty of four counts of rape and two counts of aggravated assault causing harm.

He also pleaded guilty to a further two counts of aggravated assault.

Throughout the hearing, Armstrong-Leckstrom stared at Ms Franklin.

Judge Anthony Allen said that Armstrong-Leckstrom, who has been in custody since September 2023, had multiple chances to pause and reflect on his behaviour and "cease and desist" during various earlier stints he had spent behind bars.

"Rather than take that opportunity he has simply returned to almost precisely the form of dreadful behaviour that he found himself in custody for in the first place," he said.

Armstrong-Leckstrom returns to court for another pre-sentence hearing next month.