Battered husbandDaily secretly filmed drunken teacher wife abusing him
A HUSBAND rigged up a spy camera to film his drunken and violent wife beating him up because he feared no one would believe he was a victim of domestic violence.
Neil Tweedy, 45, endured years of physical abuse at the hands of his teacher wife Helen and was even battered by her on their wedding night.
But despite suffering years of misery, Mr Tweedy continued to defend his now estranged wife after she was convicted this week of assault.
For years Mr Tweedy believed harddrinking Helen, 45, would change but after they had a baby he feared the worst. So he hid a spy camera in their £200,000 semi in Stretford, Greater Manchester, to record her violent mood swings.
Slapping
Manchester magistrates heard he filmed her slapping him and swearing at him – once in front of their fouryear-old daughter.
Tweedy admitted three charges of common assault and was sentenced to a 12-month community and restraining order with 120 hours’ unpaid work.
Prosecutor Robin Lynch said the couple met in 2001 and within weeks moved in together with the first few years described as “amazing”.
But Mr Lynch added: “The defendant began to drink in private and there was controlling behaviour.
“The defendant took over her husband’s finances and told him he had to hand over all of his wages to pay the bills.
“In 2005 on a family holiday with the defendant’s parents she slapped him in the face and from then on it became a regular thing.
“Despite this, they married in 2008 – but even that night she placed a duvet over his head, he was assaulted, kicked and punched.
“They did go on their honeymoon but the verbal and physical abuse continued. On occasions he left but would always come back thinking she would change.”
The court was told Tweedy stopped drinking during the pregnancy only to start again when the baby was born in 2012.
Mr Lynch added: “A couple of months prior to these offences the complainant installed a camera to record her behaviour. He didn’t think anyone would believe his story. That recorded three incidents.
“On June 2 the defendant was verbally abusive, shouting and swearing and slapped him round the head.
“On July 21 she was sat on the sofa with the child and started physically abusing him. Then on July 31 the child was asleep upstairs and the defendant was again abusive.
“He was worried this would escalate further and that is why he reported the matter.”
James Street, defending, said his client was a woman of previous good character with no previous convictions. He added: “This is a very sad case. All of these problems come from a long-term drinking problem.”
Afterwards Mr Tweedy said: “Helen is a fantastic teacher and so hardworking. The problem was alcohol. Something had to change. Hopefully now she can get the help she needs.”