A battered husband set up a secret camera to film his drunken wife attacking him up because he didn't think police would believe him.

Neil Tweedy, 45, endured up to 12 years of physical abuse at the hands of school teacher spouse Helen, including an assault on their wedding night in which she smothered him with a duvet and forced him to sleep on the sofa.

But for years, Mr Tweedy believed his heavy-drinking wife, also 45, would change and failed to report the attacks to authorities.

He eventually took action after the couple had a child and she continued with her abusive behaviour towards him.


Unbeknown to his wife, he installed a hidden camera at the couple's £200,000 semi detached in Stretford, Greater Manchester and, for a two-month period, filmed Mrs Tweedy slapping him and swearing at him - once in front of their daughter, now four.

After three incidents, he feared the attacks were escalating and handed over the footage to police.

Mrs Tweedy admitted three charges of common assault by beating