Why are more women attacking men than ever before?

Latest statistics show the number of women violently assaulting their partners has trebled in the last 10 years. Closer speaks to one of the victims and investigates the truth behind this worrying trend

hen Martyn Brown started W dating Harriet Sharp, he thought she was the woman of his dreams.

But, shockingly, six months into the relationship, Sharp turned violent and subjected him to a terrifying campaign of abuse. It culminated in a horrific attack months before they were due to marry, when Sharp, 25, stabbed dad-of-two Martyn 28 times with a kitchen knife, leaving him close to death.

Thankfully he survived, but he now suffers from ADHD, depression and epilepsy as well as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and is going through counselling.

Worryingly, bar worker Martyn says: “I was scared to speak out because I thought people wouldn’t believe me. It’s embarrassing admitting your girlfriend is attacking you.”

Martyn is far from alone in his ordeal. Statistics released by the Attorney General reveal violence against men by women has trebled in the last decade, with 177 women now convicted of domestic abuse every week.

EMBARRASSMENT

But figures from charity Mankind Initiative – which helps male victims of domestic abuse – reveal men are over three times more likely to keep the abuse a secret compared to women, with 52 per cent citing embarrassment as the reason for staying in the relationship – so the problem may be even more widespread.

Mark Brooks, chairman of Mankind Initiative, explains: “There’s still a problem with social attitudes towards male victims. Men feel ashamed to admit they’re being abused by a girlfriend and fear they may be laughed at by their peers.

“More women are committing domestic violence than ever before because of increased life pressures, and more men are starting to come forward, which has resulted in a rise in the number of convictions.

“It’s important to remember that while domestic violence against men is on the increase, it still affects more women. One in four women will suffer domestic abuse in their lifetime, compared to one in six men. And two women a week are killed by a partner or ex-partner, compared to one man every fortnight.”

Martyn started dating fairground ride operative Sharp in March 2016, and at first there was no hint of her violent streak.

He recalls: “We went to the same school and ended up being re-introduced through mutual friends.” They soon became an item and the relationship moved fast, with Sharp proposing after five months.

Martyn – who has two children from a previous relationship – says: “I said yes. It just felt right. We got on, she was sweet and good fun – we were in love.”

He moved in with Sharp and her mum shortly afterwards so they could save for a place of their own, but her aggressive side soon emerged.

ESCALATING VIOLENCE

Martyn recalls: “I knew she liked a drink, but she started boozing heavily and became very lairy.

“She’d argue a lot with her mum about money and one evening I told her to calm down, then she slapped me. I was shocked. The next day she acted like nothing had happened and I tried to forget about it.”

But the violence escalated and soon Sharp was lashing

out regularly.

Martyn explains: “It was mostly triggered by drinking. She’d go mad if I wanted to go out with mates and would hit, punch and kick me.

“I wanted her to seek help for her drinking, but I knew she’d go ballistic if I confronted her, so I kept quiet and hoped things would improve.

“She started isolating me from my friends, ordering me home from the pub when I was out with them. I was too embarrassed to tell them.

“When Harriet wasn’t drinking, she was a totally different person and could be such good fun.

“She was ploughing ahead with the wedding and had booked the venue for October 2017 and started looking at dresses. I was torn about what to do.”

Shockingly, Sharp’s aggressive behaviour spiralled even further out of control.

stabbing

Martyn says: “One evening, when I said I wanted to go out with some mates, she flipped and slashed me in the arm with a kitchen knife. It was terrifying and I lost a lot of blood. Her mum called an ambulance but when they got there Harriet made me tell them I’d cut my arm chopping vegetables. I was too afraid to speak out.”

In January this year, the violence came to a head.

Martyn recalls: “She’d come back from the pub drunk, and when I tried to stop her arguing with her mum she flew at me, scratching and biting me. I managed to get her off and I thought she’d calm down.

“But she carried on drinking and became even more aggressive. I was in the living room when I saw her holding a kitchen knife by her side. Before I could do anything, she lunged at me and started stabbing me in the arms, chest and legs. She got me in the left lung and I could hardly breathe.

“I started drifting in and out of consciousness. I thought I was going to die.”

Bizarrely, Sharp called an ambulance for herself, saying she had stomach pains, but when paramedics saw Martyn they rushed him to hospital and managed to save his life.

He recalls: “Doctors told me

I was an hour away from death. I was horrified.”

Martyn was in hospital for 10 days recovering, meanwhile Sharp was arrested and admitted three offences of GBH and was jailed for 11 years.

Martyn says: “I went to the sentencing. She didn’t show any emotion and turned away from me. I’m disgusted by her.

“Now I’m struggling to move on. I suffer from flashbacks and take 11 tablets a day for my conditions and have nerve damage to my left arm.

“I find it hard to trust women, but I hope I’ll meet someone in the future when I’m ready.

“I want to tell men suffering from domestic violence to speak out. I let things get so bad I almost lost my life, it’s vital to seek help before it’s too late.”