Statement reveals Tammy's life of suffering

Extracts from Tammy Kingdon's victim impact statement in which she detailed how she suffered at the hands of bikie Troy Mercanti were read out in court at his sentencing, revealing her desperate bid to keep her family together before realising she had to get out.

Judge Simon Stone today sentenced Mercanti to six years and 10 months for four assaults committed from 1997 to 2012 - the year she left the bikie with their two sons.

Reading out parts of the statement, Judge Stone said it showed Ms Kingdon's 16‑year relationship with Mercanti had been a "traumatic and harrowing ordeal" during which she had feared for her life.

"All I ever wanted was a family unit for my children," Ms Kingdon had said in the statement.

"I stayed with Mr Mercanti in the hope that after two long stints in gaol and with his boys getting older and more impressionable, that he might change his lifestyle, not totally, but considerably."

"In fact, as time passed, he became worse with drugs and alcohol, his temper and threats. I knew it wouldn’t be long before the next fight, before I was told to leave the house or, in some situations, I would make the impossible choice to leave my children with him so they had peace of mind (and)he could not harm me."

"It escalated and escalated until we could not take anymore and we made the painstaking decision to leave our friends, family and the only life we knew.

"I still feel often times that I am not good enough.

"I feel as though I am all the things Mr Mercanti used to call me, most of which do not bear repeating here.

"I know why women don’t report domestic violence. There are always embarrassing circumstances surrounding the incidents themselves and I can tell you giving evidence at this trial and having all those seemingly unrelated matters aired in this courtroom has been a long and harrowing experience for me, devastating."

Judge Stone said the statement revealed how Ms Kingdon feared for her life.

"She lived in constant fear for her safety and wellbeing at your hands. She was always afraid that the next time you beat her, you might kill her," the judge said.