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A man who suffered both emotional and physical abuse from his ex-girlfriend is speaking out to raise awareness and help other victims. Gareth Jones, an NHS manager, met Sarah Rigby online in July 2021, and she appeared to be “overly affectionate” at first. But after four months, he moved in with her, and the abuse began. Rigby isolated him from friends and family, controlled his finances, and subjected him to daily verbal abuse, telling him he was not allowed to shower or use the toilet in the house without her permission. She also placed strict controls on his diet.
Jones describes the experience as being very demoralizing, as Rigby repeatedly told him she would tell the police he had assaulted her if he spoke to anyone about the abuse. Despite this, Jones eventually reached out for help, calling the Mankind Initiative, which verified that he was experiencing domestic violence.
Earlier this year, Rigby was given a 20-month sentence suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to coercive and controlling behavior. Jones hopes his story will help change the stigma around men speaking out about domestic abuse, and wants to share his experience so that others can seek help if they need it.
Mankind Initiative chairman Mark Brooks praised Jones’ bravery in speaking out about the abuse, stating that the experiences of men like him were not commonly heard. Jones has had to start from scratch financially, make a new home, and rebuild his friendships, not to mention work on rebuilding his confidence and self-esteem. He hopes that one day he will be ready to find love again. Jones’ story highlights the prevalence of male domestic abuse, with one in six or seven men being victims at some point in their lives
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