The sister of a woman who took her own life rather than face her abusive ex in court has backed calls to register every domestic violence-linked suicide on a national database.

Gemma Robinson, from Dartford, took her own life during the pandemic before her abuser Joseph Falconer was sentenced.

The 34-year-old mum-of-two was left with a fractured eye socket and cuts and bruises after her attacker grabbed her around the throat and repeatedly punched her in the face.

Gemma was left "petrified" by the attack in October 2019 and told family she could not face him in court.

Just eight months later – and before Falconer could be sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm – Gemma's body was discovered and an inquest ruled she had taken her own life.

But her sister Kirsty says the family were left stumped by the ruling which did not directly attribute the domestic violence as the underlying cause of her death.

Speaking to KentOnline, she said: "We thought that would come into the sentencing but it didn't. They just put it down to multiple factors.

"It got spoken about, the impact of the abuse, but it wasn't given as the reason for her suicide."

Earlier this week the government was asked to do more on the issue following the end of a landmark inquest into the death of another 34-year-old woman, Jessica Laverack.

It concluded the “underlying cause of her illness [was] domestic abuse” and is believed to be the first time a UK coroner has explicitly recognised the link between domestic abuse and suicide.

The coroner has since written to the Home Secretary, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Health, calling for a better recognition.

Bereaved relatives and campaigners have also urged the government to establish a national database of every woman who takes their own life after suffering abuse.

Gemma's sister Kirsty has backed the idea which she hopes will be used to build up a better picture of the true impact of domestic violence.

"If you go through something like that it impacts you for a long long time," she said.

"For me it is common sense. If you were to look at her story and read what she went through anybody would see that was the cause. I just don't understand."

The businesswoman, also from Dartford, says there also needs to be more police training and support for victims.

"It was obvious and there to be called out," she added. "It is not something you deal with on a daily basis."

Gemma had tried to escape the clutches of her jealous ex but he discovered her address in Dartford and tracked her down on multiple occasions.

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In February 2019, after the end of the relationship, he was convicted for battery and criminal damage and received a community order.

Later he contacted his victim telling her he was sorry for what he had done and began threatening to take his life.

Gemma took pity on him and in June or July he turned up unannounced at her home in Burnham Crescent.

Then in October he turned up again saying he was homeless, had PTSD and now wanted to address his problems.

But a month later the ex-squaddie turned on Gemma after she returned home and he accused her of sleeping with another man.

He then savagely attacked her, grabbing her around the throat so she struggled to breath, fracturing her eye socket and leaving her with bruises all over her body and then added insult to injury by spitting on her and clearing her bank accounts.

The true number of suicides linked to domestic violence is not known.

The Transforming Health and Social Care in Kent and Medway partnership conducted a study which concluded that almost one in five of the people who died by suicide in the county in 2020 had been impacted by domestic abuse.

Kirsty has been working with Kent County Councillor for Dartford North East Kelly Grehan to shine a light on the true scale of the problem.

Cllr Grehan said: "There has been some knowledge about the link between domestic violence and suicide for quite some time but it's always been difficult to prove.

"What we do know is that often the despair victims are in leads them to take their own life, certainly in Gemma's case."

On the recent coroner's verdict, she added: "I think this ruling is so important and I really hope we see a change in things.

• If in immediate danger call the police on 999. Otherwise, to access specialist domestic abuse support call Victim Support on 0808 168-9111

"We know two women every week are killed in domestic abuse situations and that is becoming more widely known.

"We certainly need more awareness around the risk of suicide for people in domestic abuse relationsips or have left such relationships."

She would like to see police carry out checks for a domestic abuse history when there is evidence and it is clear there is a self-inflicted death.

Meanwhile, Kirsty continues to fight for justice for her sister after feeling the family were "cheated" by her abuser's lenient sentencing.

Despite being described by a judge as "dangerous, jealous and controlling", bullying lover Falconer received three-and-a-half years in prison in February last year after being convicted for malicious wounding, fraud and causing criminal damage at Maidstone Crown Court.

The Section 20 malicious wounding charge is not covered by the Unduly Lenient Scheme (ULS) but a charge of causing grievous bodily harm, which is, was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The issue has been raised by Dartford MP Gareth Johnson to change the law to extend the scope of the scheme and provide tougher sentences for more crimes.

Kirsty said: "Gemma did everything she could possibly do and he still managed to take her down.

"She was so scared to go to court and face him and they prolonged the court case because of lockdown. It was just too much for her."

The Ministry for Justice and the Home Office were approached for comment.