Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.
A brand new documentary chronicling a seriously harrowing real life series of events has landed on Netflix US and viewers have already had quite the visceral reaction towards it.
Originally airing on Sky Documentaries back in February, the docu-film has now made its way to the streaming giant and audiences have already threatened to switch it off after dubbing the sickening plot details too 'disgusting' to bear.
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The doc in question, Tell Them You Love Me, focuses on the extremely controversial relationship between Derrick Johnson and Anna Stubblefield.
It all started back in 2009 when white university professor Anna, who was married at the time, came to meet Derrick, the black, non-verbal, and disabled younger brother of one of her students, John Johnson.
The 39-year-old ethics lecturer had been approached by John about his brother's disability - cerebral palsy - later bringing Anna and Derrick, 28, face to face for the first time, with the former assisting the latter with his communication.
After teaching him how to use a keyboard with LED screen to type, Derrick soon began taking university classes.
It was during this time that Anna subsequently claimed that - though she was wed to someone else - the two fell in love and began an allegedly consensual, sexual relationship.
Little did she know at the time, however, that in the years to come, she'd been convicted of the sexual assault of the man she claimed to have loved, after his mother learned of the intimate nature of their relationship.
Daisy Johnson later argued in court that her son lacked the capacity to engage in both physical and emotional intimacy, claiming his ability to communicate in the way that Anna claimed he had wouldn't have been possible without her manipulating his hands.
The heartbroken mother claimed that her son been declared by the state to have the mental capacity of a toddler, accusing Anna of taking advantage of this.
As a result, in 2015 Anna was found guilty of two counts of first degree aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Two years later, her appeal was granted and conviction revoked on grounds of a technicality.
Tell Them You Love Me explores why it was that testimony related to Anna's 'assistance' in his computer-led communication was dismissed, while attempting to determine why she accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, True Life, Documentaries, True Crime
Rhiannon Ingle