Concerns over the number of males experiencing female domestic abuse

Experts are warning that reports of men being abused by their girlfriends or wives is increasing across Staffordshire and Cheshire.

It comes after last week a Cannock woman was jailed for life after murdering her ex in a jealous rage - before his death he was deemed by police as at a very high risk of domestic abuse.

Mark Brooks OBE is from the charity ManKind Initiative which supports men across Staffordshire and Cheshire. He told our Chief Reporter Adam Smith:

"We get six foot four guys including those from the armed forces who're ringing us up saying they're being a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of their girlfriend or wife - who's around 5 foot 6. So there's a huge issue around that male shame and stigma.

"They feel an enhanced sense of shame and embarrassment; they feel less of a man if they're a victim of domestic abuse - especially at the hands of a woman - because they fear being laughed at or not taken seriously."

Mark continued: "The longer an abusive relationship goes on for, the more intense the abuse becomes and also the frequency of it also increases.

"Certainly reports are going up, reports to police are going up, also we're seeing increases to men calling our helpline - and we know there are far too many men still suffering domestic abuse before closed doors.

"1 in 5 men at some time in their life will be a victim of domestic abuse, roughly speaking it's 10 to 15 men every single year who die at the hands of a partner."

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