Protect men from violent women, begs EuroMillions winner beaten up by his lover
A LOTTERY winner told yesterday how he became the victim of domestic violence after rekindling his relationship with a former girlfriend following his £1million windfall.
Matt Myles, 28, had broken up with fitness trainer Carla Chamberlain, 24, three weeks before his EuroMillions raffle win after she started belittling his physique and their rows became more volatile.
Following the win in April 2014 he left his job as an electrical engineer and went on a seven-month roundthe-world ‘bender’ with friends, staying in five-star hotels.
But after he returned home to Hereford, Miss Chamberlain, who also competes as a bodybuilder, told him she wanted to give their ten-month relationship another chance and the pair became an item again.
Yesterday Mr Myles spoke out about the ‘ taboo’ of domestic violence
‘It is still a taboo subject’
against men as he told how Miss Chamberlain violently attacked him, ending up in court when he told her he was ending the relationship for good.
He said: ‘ The lottery win was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me but ironically it also led to the worst thing that ever happened in my life – suffering domestic abuse at the hands of the woman I loved.
‘Domestic violence against men is still very much taboo or perceived as a joke but it’s no laughing matter for the victim.’
Last month the Mail reported how Miss Chamberlain was fined £650 plus costs after being convicted of two common assaults and criminal damage in the attack on Mr Myles.
He told Hereford magistrates how a drunken Miss Chamberlain had struck him to the face on Boxing Day, scratched his neck and pulled him to the floor.
Mr Myles, who is 6ft tall to Miss Chamberlain’s 5ft 7in, said yesterday: ‘The attack left me feeling vulnerable and knocked my confidence. I served for five years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engi- neers but this left me feeling totally powerless.’ Miss Chamberlain lashed out after Mr Myles received a Snapchat picture message from a female friend after the couple had returned from a night out.
He added: ‘Carla said, “Why the **** are you getting pictures from her? I bet she sends you more than that.” She’d just had huge, acrylic glittery nails done and she scratched my face. I told her to get off and then she punched me in the face.’
He asked her to leave but she punched him, swore at him and grabbed his groin. The lottery win- ner is now in a new relationship, with air hostess Tasha Dodds, and has set up his own property development company.
Latest figures suggest a third of domestic violence victims are men.
Mark Brooks, chairman of the ManKind Initiative which helps these victims, said: ‘ Domestic abuse against men remains one of Britain’s last great taboos.
‘Many men won’t get help because they fear they won’t be believed or they’ll be laughed at. In reality when they do come forward they are taken seriously.’