I started to find food I thought I had bought disappearing and he would say I was stupid. I would arrive at a pre-booked appointment at the hairdressers and find it was cancelled. I missed school evenings because the dates I was told were incorrect. I thought I was losing my memory or my sanity.

He used to try to exclude me when we attended gatherings, whispering to tell me to leave because I wasn’t welcome. If I got upset he would make it look like I had mental health issues and I was being oversensitive.

He started to tell me that I shouldn’t be in charge of finances. We met at uni, I was a full time student but worked too, where I could. He didn’t – and because he was an international student he said he couldn’t work or access any grants or benefits. But he would frequently take money from me. And made me feel guilty if I refused to buy him stuff – he even asked for designer gifts..

I eventually became too afraid to do anything or make any decisions because I knew they’d be wrong and I would be threatened. As a result of the constant insults from my ex-partner, I lost 3 stone and was diagnosed to a counsellor. With the support of my counsellor and family law solicitor, I have now got a Non-Molestation Order and Occupation Order against my ex-partner and I have started divorce proceedings..