MAN’S HARROWING TALE OF LIVING IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A POLICE OFFICER

really felt like I did.”

He also said that she was fully aware of his mental health issues from the beginning of their relationship.

“She would tell me that she had other officers watching me while she was at work and I’d see police cars patrolling up and down my street every day. Once when I was a few doors down sitting in a friend’s garden, a police car drove past and she text me straight after saying, ‘Why aren’t you in bed? You’re supposed to be depressed.’

“I tried to take my own life because I couldn’t take it anymore, but my mum found me on time.

“I didn’t know where to turn – I didn’t think anyone would believe me because I’m a man and I knew I couldn’t go to the police.

“She convinced me to go into a psychiatric hospital because I was isolating myself and didn’t want to get out of bed. But I was isolating myself because I didn’t want to be around her.

“Now, she’s using my depression as an excuse for denying me access to my child – the same one she said would give me a reason to live.”

A police spokesperson said: “All adult safeguarding issues including allegations of domestic abuse are taken extremely seriously and we work closely with partners to continually improve our services and secure justice for victims.

“Every report of domestic abuse is attended by a police officer and where appropriate a crime is recorded, investigated and the victim safeguarded.”