Case studies: 'I looked at him. This man was not my dad, he was a monster'

I was born into an upper middle class family. My father was a business entrepreneur who had hit the big bucks with property development. From a glance you would think we were a big, happy family - it all changed when we were out of the public eye.

I don't remember much of that time, being so young. I do remember leaving our big comfortable house just before Christmas and my third birthday. I remember my dad blaring drunkenly, and my mum's battered face streaming tears at her partner's wickedness.

Case Study two: Jack, 17

So in he came. (Surprise! He wasn't in a good mood.) He pulled out a hammer and told me he was going to kill her that night - he was more than capable.

I looked at him. This man wasn't my dad, he was a monster. He seemed completely oblivious to my brother and me, who were watching. My mum was screaming, telling him to calm down.

I don't remember exactly, but I think she had to grab the hammer and knife from his hand. I don't know how many nights I lay awake, wondering if my mum was lying dead in the next room.

Case Study three: raya, 18

The abuse was centralised on my mother. I heard once, during the night, a dull thud and then a sharp, piercing scream.

He had hit my mother, and for what reason? To be sure, she had done nothing to provoke such violence.

After 14 years of violence, my mother finally had the colossal courage to leave my abusive and violent father to embark on our journey to Scotland.

I want to say thank you to my mum.