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Community reporter Richard Sargent

"He would constantly call you a bitch, you're pathetic, you're nothing but a piece of scum, you're ugly...I actually wanted to kill myself. No-one else sees it, he's just like that with you."

Karen and her fiance lived in Middlesbrough.Ìý They had been together seven years.Ìý They had a baby together. And then it turned violent.

"I was put in hospital with a broken jaw and cheekbone.Ìý The baby was only six months old and had a panic attack.Ìý He told me he was going to put a knife through me, put me in intensive care.Ìý

I was actually glad he started hitting me. That gave me the reason to contact the service."

Karen got in touch with My Sister's Place in Middlebrough which helps victims of domestic violence.Ìý It helped her emotionally and financially to get an injunction to keep her fiance away and went with her to court to help plead her case.

The charity takes domestic violence head-on.Ìý

Ensuring the safety of women and children is its priority.Ìý

My Sister's Place helps them contact the police, the social services and the courts as well as offering practical support with debt, legal issues and homelessness.

The police and social services refer people to them all the time.Ìý But the charity doesn't get any government funding.Ìý It relies totally on grants and donations.

So Karen's decided to tell her story to convince people to help support the charity.

"Without this service so many women and children are going to suffer, going to be abused, hurt, confused.Ìý I'd say they're actually angels in disguise."