A SECRET miracle car button has been hailed “amazing” after a woman used it to make an emergency call while under attack.
Amelia Hancock shocked the court room after revealing the existence of the life-saving feature.
GettyDrivers can use the SOS button to make an emergency call to the police[/caption]
Judge Rupert Lowe was left astonished at the little-known car feature during a trial on February 27 at Gloucester Crown Court.
The judge said: “I have never bought a car as new as that, I have to say, but I am amazed! I didn’t know that.”
Prosecuting barrister Susan Cavender said she was also shocked when Ameila explained how she used the secret SOS button in her car to make an emergency call to the police.
Ms Cavender said: “I was surprised too. I have asked the police officer in the case and that is what I was told.”
The life-saving SOS button is a standard feature in vehicles manufactured from 2018 onwards.
Mr Lowe added: “I have looked up SOS buttons and it seems to be confirmed.
“They have all got these buttons in them since April 2018.”
The revelation unfolded during the trial of Ashton Potter, 29, who faced charges of assaulting his partner Amelia – causing her actual bodily harm.
He was accused of intentionally strangling her and damaging her phone on January 30.
Potter, from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, pleaded guilty to the charges.
LIFE-SAVING FEATURE
The court heard how the couple was in a tumultuous relationship for about 18 months.
According to the victim, Mr Potter was paranoid about Hancock seeing other men.
The situation escalated in September when the relationship officially ended.
But the couple continued seeing each other.
Ms Cavender explained how he “was gripping her with such force that she couldn’t breathe.”
The prosecutor said: “He forced his face onto hers and tried to bite her cheek. She put her hand in the way and he bit down on her hand.
“They both got up and he pushed her back onto the sofa before picking up her phone and throwing it at the wall. It was damaged.
“He then began to apologise. He said ‘You don’t need to say sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have done that.’”
In fear for her life, she managed to escape to her car – where she activated the emergency SOS button to call for help.
The police then arrived at 10.10pm and found the house locked.
Ms Cavender added: “He then said he wanted to hang himself and she should leave so she didn’t have to watch him kill himself.
“She then went out to the car and used her emergency SOS button.
“The police arrived at 10.10pm and found the house locked. They forced entry but there was no-one there.
“The victim was found at her parents’ home in Coleford in a very distressed state. She said she thought the defendant was going to kill her.
“It was seen she had a bite mark to the left hand and marks on her neck, scratches on her back, bruising to her chin and face and a cut on her lower lip.
“The police went back to the house at 4.30am and arrested the defendant.”
Ms Hancock was found in a distressed state at her parent’s home with visible injuries – including bite marks, scratches, bruising and a cut on her lower lip.
Potter, who was representing himself, claimed his action were due to a drug-induced paranoia.
He received a one-year jail sentence and a £187 surcharge.
Passing sentence the judge said: “You are an intelligent man but you did not behave like one that night – in senseless fury you took it out on a completely defenceless woman and she thought she was going to die.”