A man has shared the details of a violent relationship he stayed in for five years in the hope that it will help others recognise that men aren't always to blame for abusive situations.

Simon Lanham, now 42, was stabbed five times by his then-girlfriend, Sheree Maxfield, in June 2012 in the Victorian town of Tongola, near Shepperton.

The assault has taken a lasting toll on Mr Lanham who said that, apart from his physical injuries, he has had to work hard to convince others that he was in fact a victim of abuse.

Simon Lanham pictured here with his ex-partner Sheree Maxfield

Simon Lanham pictured here with his two-and-a-half-year-old son Jimmy weeks before he was stabbed by his girlfriend, the child's mother

He was stabbed five times, four in the back on in the front, and had to undergo multiple emergency procedures

During his stay in hospital he claims one doctor said; 'So mate, we are all dying to know did you deserve it?'

There's some justification for assuming that it's women, not men, that are the victims in cases of domestic violence.

Inspector Sean McDermott, Manager of the Domestic Family Violence Team for NSW Police said that the majority of domestic violence victims that he sees are women although domestic violence can affect anyone.

'It (Domestic Violence) affects anybody, regardless of their creed, culture, economic background, if they are a man or woman, and if they are in a same-sex relationship,' he said.

Victims are never to blame and any attitude that tends blame victims displays ignorance of domestic abuse, he said.

In Australia one in six woman and one in 19 men experience physical or sexual violence from a current or former partner, according to Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety.

The father of three said it was difficult to leave the violent relationship because he loved his abuser, his step-children and his two children

Mr Lanham says on the night he was stabbed he was looking after his young son who was sick with a stomach bug.

He said that he asked his partner to change him but when he told her that she would have to go outside to get baby wipes, she refused.

Mr Lanham then went outside and was closing the door of their cabin when he felt a knife cut into his back, near his shoulder blade.

'I didn't know what it was at first it felt like an electric shock,' he said.

He says he turned around after three more blows to his back, and was stabbed in the abdomen.

'The knife had gone in all the way to the hilt.'

Mr Lanham' girlfriend who was 25 at the time then called him an ambulance, he remembers telling himself to stay awake until paramedics arrived.

As a result of his injuries Mr Lanham was in hospital for four weeks while he recovered.

His oldest child Seth with Jimmy who was a baby when the incident occurred

Mr Lanham said that the stabbing wasn't the first time he was physically attacked by his partner. From around three months into the relationship his partner would run at him from behind, jump onto him and 'bite his trapeze muscle'.

He says he 'feels silly' for staying in the relationship for so long, but he did it because he really loved her.'

Inspector McDermott says that people in violent relationships often stay because they believe the situation will improve.

'In many cases the victims have a degree of hope, they say it won't happen again or it won't get any worse or their partner will change,' he said.

This scar reminds him of his abusive relationship

Sheree Maxfield was ordered to serve a three year community corrections order after the assault by a judge from the Supreme Court of Victoria.

'You were fortunate indeed that you did not kill your victim. The offence is one which ordinarily would demand a term of immediate imprisonment, and a substantial term at that.

The judge went on to explain that Maxfield would see a reduced sentence because she 'clearly' has 'a mild intellectual disability'.

People who are in a domestic violence relationship who would like assistance or information on help available can call Rape and Domestic Violence Australia on 1800 737 732.