Lucy Wicks breaks her silence after her MP ex was dumped from the Liberal party for sending her vicious texts

Lucy Wicks has broken her silence following a months-long investigation into the behavior of her former Upper House MP lover and a series of abusive text messages he sent.

Taylor Martin was dumped from the Liberal Party at a meeting with NSW state executive members on Friday evening following an external investigation into his conduct.

Ms Wicks, the former federal MP for the NSW Central Coast seat of Robertson, filed a confidential complaint in July 2023 about a series of text messages she received from Mr Martin over an extended period that she said amounted to harassment .

In the messages, which he admitted were “ugly”, Mr Martin called Ms Wicks a “bloody idiot”, a “stupid bastard”, a “sick”, an “absolute bastard of a person” and a “bloody pig , ignorant b***h’.

The investigation took nine months and was marred by delays and scandals, including the revelation that Mr Martin was still being welcomed into crucial NSW Liberal State Council meetings.

But Mr Martin was ultimately found guilty of ‘abuse’ and was expelled from the Liberal Party on April 19, but will remain on the crossbench for the remainder of his term.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday, Ms Wicks said she felt she ‘never had a chance’ after being exposed as a complainant in the media without her consent.

“I felt so violated and humiliated,” she said.

‘Then a vicious smear campaign immediately started.’

Reports at the time suggested that Ms Wicks had begun an affair with Mr Martin while he was a young staffer in her office – and while she was married.

It is understood her relationship with Mr Martin only began in 2017 – the same year he was elected to Parliament and after Ms Wicks’ marriage ended.

Ms Wicks feared that if she spoke out, her own career and reputation would be destroyed. Martin received strong support from the centre-right contingent of the Liberal Party.

“Living under the threat of… professional contamination and reputational damage was beyond terrifying,” she said.

She knew that speaking out could cost her “almost everything, including financial security.”

‘This is an important reason why when victims say something, you should always believe them. Speaking out is often more difficult than remaining silent, because of the retaliation that all too often follows,” she says.

“That terror, that fear – that overwhelming sense of impending dread that you learn to live with day after day, month after month – is what so many other women face as they experience the insidious and often hidden consequences of abuse.”

Daily Mail Australia revealed in March that Ms Wicks began receiving threatening anonymous letters to her new workplace after she was publicly identified as the complainant.

One letter falsely claimed that she had ‘X-rated’ content ‘on the dark web’.

“I can’t wait to see this in the media,” the letter continued.

At least three letters, each typed and printed, have been referred to police for investigation.

A source with knowledge of the incident said: ‘You could tell the intention was to scare or intimidate her. Someone wanted to denigrate her’.

There is no indication that Mr Martin had anything to do with those letters.

‘Speaking almost cost me everything. But because of it I have my voice back, my sense of safety and well-being back,” Ms Wicks said.

She has also rediscovered her determination to “create real change and make a difference.”

“I have experienced and confronted a number of terrible threats, I have had to overcome crippling fear, I have learned to stand up in the face of overwhelming terror and I am determined to still serve my community in whatever capacity I can, even by this despicable, degrading slander. campaign,” she said.

“But it has also increased my courage, resilience, empathy and ability to hear the unspoken pain of others.”

Ms Wicks hopes her experience and the outcome of the research will encourage women who may find themselves in a similar position.

“It can happen to anyone,” she said. ‘It’s not your fault.

‘Trust yourself. Trust your instincts and make sure others will believe you when you say something.’

She is still considering whether she should try to run again in the 2025 federal election.

The report’s findings were released to the party months afterwards Mr. Martin’s new wife, Brittany, left their marriage.