A Victorian woman who survived years or rape and brutal abuse at the hands of her former husband has said 'every painful and humiliating step' was worth it after he was jailed.
Jon Seccull, a former White Ribbon ambassador, on Monday faced the Victorian County Court, where he was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison.
The 43-year-old had denied all wrongdoing but a jury found him guilty of nine counts of rape, two assaults and one threat to cause serious injury against his then-wife Michelle Skewes between 2011 and 2015.
It was on a seemingly innocuous Wednesday night in March 2016 - and a call from her sister - that ultimately saw Ms Skewes leave her husband.
She was visiting a friend that evening when her sister phoned, saying:
'(My sister said) "I've just got a message from (your daughter) saying, can I come and get her? Because she knows dad's going to hurt mum tonight and she doesn't want to be there when it happens,"' Ms Skewes told 7News.
'I was like, oh my goodness. Michelle, you're staying for those kids thinking that when you're not there, everything's OK. But it's not.'
The following Tuesday, she left.
Ms Skewes said her primary concern was not how many years Seccull spent in prison.
The important thing, she said, was that her story could inspire others to 'regain control of their lives and reclaim their dignity'.
Melbourne woman Michelle Skewers endured shocking sexual abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Jon Seccull (pictured left)
Jon Seccull, a former White Ribbon ambassador, on Monday faced the Victorian County Court, where he was sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison
'The road to this point has been an extremely challenging one but it has been worth every painful and humiliating step,' Ms Skewes said in a statement after the sentencing hearing.
'I remain dumbfounded by how much acutely personal and embarrassing information I had to present, confirm and reconfirm before the court would accept it as evidence.
'But the bottom line is that guilt was eventually pronounced and a very dangerous individual has been eliminated as a threat to society, albeit only temporarily.
'I wish every victim the strength to change their circumstances. You can get through it and you can win in the end.'
The court heard Seccull once pointed a loaded gun at Ms Skewes
