A DORSET domestic violence charity says it is working with schools and colleges in a bid to prevent other teenagers becoming a victim like tragic Emily Longley.

Aspiring model Emily, 17, was strangled to death by her jealous, possessive and obsessed boyfriend Elliot Turner.

Turner had made repeated threats to kill Emily, called her a ‘whore’ for the way she was dressed and searched her mobile phone and Facebook pages to check who she was speaking to.

These are all the signs, says Joanna Syrett from the Safe Partnership, of domestic violence.

“It can start off with someone texting you all the time and then you cannot go out without them. They start to control what you are wearing and who you are talking to.

“We try to remind young people that domestic violence doesn’t have to be physical, it can be emotional. It’s the controlling aspect that is the key to this and we are trying to change people’s perspective of what is acceptable in their relationships.”

Joanna, development manager, added: “Young people can get help. Controlling and abusive behaviour is not right and you can say no.”

The partnership, based in Wareham, has developed the SafeDATE programme to raise young people’s awareness of the telltale signs of abusive relationships, domestic abuse and violence.

The free programme is delivered to schools, colleges and universities up and down the country in a bid to prevent the shocking numbers of young people experiencing domestic violence rising even further. Joanna said: “This is a project for young people to raise awareness of the issues they may well face in the future. It’s a very difficult world out there and it’s helping them to recognise the early signs of an abusive relationship and to stop them becoming the next statistic.”

After Elliot Turner was handed a life sentence, Emily’s parents Mark and Caroline spoke out to urge other young people in controlling and abusive relationships to seek help.

Caroline said: “Try and recognise the signs and if you are worried ask for help. The most important thing is to get out of any controlling relationship before things get worse.”

Mark added: “And if anyone sees this happening from the outside please do something about it.”

See all our coverage of Elliot Turner’s trial and conviction for the murder of Emily Longley at bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/emily_longley