Delia Balmer 'still angry' about John Sweeney's frenzied attack as she speaks out in candid documentary

Anna Maxwell Martin narrates the documentary featuring the real Delia Balmer, as she opens up about suffering at the hands of John Sweeney.

Until I Kill You has come to an end on ITV and the eye-opening companion documentary titled Until I Kill You: The Real Story is set to air tonight, November 7.

The hour-long film explores the stories of Sweeney's known victims, including American model Melissa Halstead and mother-of-three Paula Fields.

Viewers will hear how Sweeney really did dismember their bodies and dispose of their remains in canals.

The real Delia Balmer, now in her 70s, survived the serial killer’s attempt to murder her in 1994, but the attack has had lasting physical and mental impacts.

She says: "My concern has always been to get the truth out by whatever means. I remain an angry person. Sweeney was let out on bail. The police gave me insufficient protection before his final assault. Later, I was forced to go to court to be further traumatised by the system."

Describing what her life looks like now, Delia added: "I am a perfectionist but my life is opposite of perfect. I often suffer from depression and anxiety, afraid of life and afraid of the future, a compulsive worrier.

"When I look in the mirror I see a stranger. Certain physical pain, I will have for life. I am stuck. I cannot move on, and cannot go further. Fear holds me back from doing certain things."

The former agency nurse had met Sweeney at a pub and, after quickly moved himself into Delia's London home, it was not long before his true identity started to become apparent.

He tortured Delia and held her hostage in her own home on more than one occasion. Delia recalls the night Sweeney attacked her with an axe outside her home, during which she almost lost her life.

On the support she received in the aftermath of her experience, she said: "I received 20 sessions from a clinical psychologist at a PTSD clinic.

"I refused to accept what was allowed to happen to me, and which was never acknowledged. My extreme anger remains.

"A counsellor, also chaplain of the Middlesex Hospital at that time, and another man from MIND were the most helpful. Several other counsellors, all female, were of little benefit."

Actress Anna Maxwell-Martin explained how she did not have any conversations with Delia before filming.

She said: "I don’t choose to do that, that’s how I work. Our writer, Nick, filmed a lot of footage of his meetings with Delia, which I had access to.

"I did meet her very briefly during filming, but only because she wanted to visit the set and of course I was respectful of that."

Until I Kill You: The Real Story airs on ITV on Thursday, November 7 from 9pm