Delia Balmer’s story is one of extraordinary survival, courage and resilience, and the new ITV drama, Until I Kill You is a brilliant portrayal of her ordeal. She endured and survived an attack by John Sweeney, a violent serial killer who terrorised her life and who, years later, was found guilty of multiple murders.
Her experience, though deeply tragic, has become an emblematic story in the fight for justice and awareness around domestic violence and the need for better protection for abuse victims.
When John Sweeney met Delia Balmer
Delia Balmer met John Sweeney, a British carpenter, in the early 1990s. At first, Sweeney appeared charming and affectionate, a man whose kind demeanour masked his dark nature. Balmer, a nurse who was known for her kind-heartedness and dedication to helping others, had no idea she was entering a relationship with someone capable of extreme violence.
It didn’t take long for Sweeney’s façade to begin to crumble, revealing his controlling and aggressive tendencies.
The attacks
On one occasion, when Delia tried to break up with John, he broke into her house, tied her to her bed (that he made) and held her hostage for four days and her threatened her with a knife and a gun. Sweeney told her that he had killed his previous girlfriend and disposed of her in Amsterdam, chopping off her hands and feet in the process.
In December 1994, Delia Balmer’s worst fears came to fruition. Sweeney launched a brutal attack on her in her London home, attacking her with a hammer and stabbing her multiple times. The assault left Delia with life-threatening injuries, and it was only through her sheer will to survive that she managed to escape death.
A neighbour stepped in after hearing and witnessing the commotion, which led John to scarper. She was able to seek help, but the physical and emotional trauma she endured was devastating. Balmer spent weeks in the hospital, recovering from multiple injuries and trying to come to terms with what she had been through.
What makes her story even more terrifying is that, despite being apprehended for the attack, Sweeney managed to evade capture after being released on bail. So, for years, Balmer lived in constant fear that he would return to kill her. Sweeney was on the run, and during this period, it was discovered that he had murdered other women both in the UK and abroad.
Capturing John Sweeney
After six years of evading authorities by using false identities, John Sweeney was finally captured in 2001 after links were made between him and Paula Fields' death. As investigators delved into his past, they uncovered evidence linking him to the brutal murder of Melissa Halstead too.
Both women had been dismembered and disposed of in canals, leading to his nickname, 'The Canal Killer.' However, Delia's ordeal was far from over. As there was no strong link to Sweeney over Field' death at the time, she had to give a witness testimony in court over her ordeal.
In 2011, Sweeney was convicted of these murders and given a whole-life sentence, meaning he would spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In sharing her story, Balmer has become a voice for those who often go unheard. Her fight for justice and reform serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who is passionate about TV, film and theatre. She enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, playing board games and spending time with her pet dogs, tortoise and chickens.