A mum-of-four who was left suicidal after a campaign of abuse by a “charming” salesman she met in her twenties has shared her story to prevent others from going through the same thing. The woman, named as Louise, said her former partner, named as Matt, isolated her from her friends and family and, soon after they met, was in “full control of her”. Both of their names have been changed.

Louise, who is now in her 40s, said she wants to bring awareness to domestic abuse inflicted on women after the charity Refuge found that three women in England and Wales take their own lives each week after falling victim to the controlling and coercive behaviour.