A British mother who was murdered in Spain had taken extensive security measures including installing cameras and changing locks to protect herself from her allegedly drug-taking ex-partner, according to a close friend. Victoria Hart, aged 33, was tragically stabbed to death on Sunday at her family residence in the La Paca district of Alhaurin el Grande, located in the Malaga region.
Violent Discovery and Immediate Arrest
Local media reports indicate that Victoria Hart was discovered in a pool of blood with a kitchen knife positioned beside her body. Her former partner, Juan Antonio Rueda, was subsequently arrested after he voluntarily presented himself at a nearby prison facility. Upon arrival, he reportedly told officers to arrest him, confessing, "I've done something very bad." This shocking admission came shortly after the violent incident.
Friend Reveals History of Fear and Systemic Failure
Elaine Mawer, a 69-year-old expat from Hull and a long-time customer of Hart's hairdressing business, has spoken out about the victim's growing fears. Mawer disclosed that Hart had confided in her about her estranged husband repeatedly ignoring a court-imposed restraining order designed to keep him away from her. Authorities had planned to fit Rueda with an electronic tag to monitor his movements, but this crucial intervention never materialised.
"The last time we spoke she said they were waiting on the tag which was coming from another part of Spain and obviously it didn't arrive," Mawer stated. "He was continuing to breach his restraining order and abuse it by getting too close to her. Victoria did everything in her power to do everything right with the authorities but the system let her down. She changed the locks, she got cameras fitted, you name it, she did everything she could."
Allegations of Narcissistic Abuse and Drug Use
Mawer attributed the couple's separation directly to Rueda's personality and habits. She described him as having a "narcissistic" character and serious problems with drug use, alleging he consumed "the hard stuff." This behaviour reportedly led to frequent absences and controlling, demeaning treatment towards Hart.
"He'd tell her 'You can't do this, you can't do that', pull her down by telling her 'You're ugly, no-one will ever want you' and this is how their relationship started going downhill," Mawer recounted. "When he came home in the morning he'd expect Victoria to act as if nothing had happened. She didn't have a good life with him. He's been a bad boy all the way through."
A Devoted Mother Let Down by Protections
Victoria Hart was a mother of three children and was in the process of divorcing Rueda. A judge had reportedly ruled she could remain in the family home until their youngest child turned 19. Friends describe her as a hardworking parent who converted the garage into her hairdressing salon, managed school runs, prepared meals, and maintained the household.
"She worked very hard, she was the one who brought their three children up, not him," Mawer emphasised. "She was a good soul, a devoted mum and a devoted wife until her husband started doing the things he used to do to her."
Community Reaction and Expulsion
In the wake of the tragedy, a Real Madrid supporters' club in Alhaurin el Grande, which Rueda was a member of, announced it had expelled him. The club released a statement expressing "deepest consternation and absolute condemnation" of the "serious gender violence incident," stating his alleged actions were "incompatible with the human, social and sporting values we defend."
A source close to the family suggested to the Daily Mail that the attack may have occurred in front of Hart's children, who then activated a panic button within the house to summon help. Elaine Mawer's final reflection was one of sorrow and accusation towards the systems meant to provide safety. "Her ex should have had a tag on ages ago and that could have saved her life," she said. "The system definitely let my friend down and it shouldn't have come to this."
