The estranged husband of Melanie Sykes has claimed the I'm A Celebrity contestant physically abused him during their short-lived marriage.

Jack Cockings says the model and TV presenter belied her feminine appearance to commit incidents of domestic violence - which would never be tolerated if the genders were reversed.

In fact, speaking to The Sun on Sunday, he claims the abuse was so vicious that it emerged early on and continued until he eventually called time on their relationship, six months later.

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Upset: The estranged husband of Melanie Sykes has claimed the I'm A Celebrity contestant physically abused him during their short-lived marriage

In an exclusive interview with the weekly paper, the 28 year-old says one incident took place as they celebrated their nuptials in Mexico in 2013, where she allegedly attacked him in their hotel room.

He added that six months earlier there was an equally unpleasant scene when they celebrated Christmas at his family home in Dorset.

The final straw, he said, was in November 2013 at their North London home.

'I was in the kitchen and she came in and went mental. she told me the whole marriage was a publicity stunt, so I started packing my things into black bin liners, but she was still trying to have a go at me with slaps.

'I locked myself in the bedroom and rang the police because I wanted to show her that was she was doing was unacceptable. Two police officers took pictures of marks around my neck and face.'

Claims: Jack Cockings says the model and TV presenter belied her feminine appearance to commit incidents of domestic violence

The television presenter was led from her north London apartment in handcuffs, according to witnesses, following the dispute.

She is said to have spent the night in custody.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said at the time: ‘Police were called at 9.45pm last night to a residential address in Hampstead following reports of an assault.'

‘A 43-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of common assault and taken to a north London police station.

‘She has since been given a caution for common assault. The victim, a man, did not require hospital treatment.’

Mel later launched legal action in London to have the caution withdrawn and on August 20, it was confirmed the paperwork had been removed from official records.

Attack: The 28 year-old says one incident took place as they celebrated their nuptials in Mexico in 2013

A friend of Melanie's told MailOnline: 'Every story has two sides and it's a real shame Melanie is not in a position to give her side.

'Whatever happened in the marriage, they clearly loved each other to begin with and it seems very opportunistic on the part of Jack that only now a year later he has decided to sell a story on Melanie when she cannot defend herself.'

Ms Sykes and Mr Cockings raised eyebrows when their relationship blossomed on micro-blogging site Twitter, but sceptics were soon forced to eat their tweets when they got engaged in August 2012.

Happier times: The pair on a night out when there seemed no evidence of the pain caused

The engagement was followed by a lavish ceremony in front of close friends and family members.

Among the guests on hand to witness the couple exchange vows were fellow TV presenters Eamonn Holmes and Des O’Connor – her old sidekick from their days presenting afternoon chat show Today with Des and Mel.

Mel’s first marriage to actor Daniel Caltagirone ended in 2009 after eight years, during which they had two children – Roman and Valentino.

MailOnline have contacted a representative for Melanie Sykes, but are yet to receive a response.

The final straw: Jack eventually called the police on Melanie, who was arrested