Neil Tweedy set up a spy camera to capture his wife abusing him (Picture: Cavendish)

A father resorted to setting up a hidden camera in his own house because he thought no one would believe that his wife was abusing him.

Eventually, Neil Tweedy was able to report the abuse he suffered at the hands of his wife Helen as the camera captured three attacks in two months.

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Mr Tweedy, 45, had secretly endured 12 years of violent abuse from his wife, a teacher, who has a long-term drinking problem, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

She even assaulted him on their wedding night, smothering him with a duvet before forcing him to sleep on the sofa.


Despite temporarily leaving her, he would return to the family home in Stretford, Greater Manchester, believing that she could change.

Helen Tweedy was given a restraining order banning her from contacting Mr Tweedy (Picture: Cavendish)

Mr Tweedy fitted the camera over the summer, and was able to report the abuse after it recorded his wife’s attacks – with one happening in front of their four-year-old daughter.



Prosecutor Robin Lynch said: ‘In 2005 on a family holiday they were with the defendant’s parents and she shoved and pushed him and slapped him in the face.

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‘The complainant said from then on it became a regular thing. There were many happy times but it was not unusual at all for this to happen. Despite this, they married in 2008 but that night he was and assaulted and kicked and punched to the head and body.

‘A couple of months prior to these offences the complainant installed a camera to record her behavior because he didn’t think anyone would believe his story.’

James Street, defending, said: ‘Really, all of these problems come from a long-term drinking problem which has lead to significant mental health issues.’

She even attacked him on their wedding night (Picture: Cavendish)

Tweedy, also 45, admitted three charges of common assault by beating and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours’ unpaid work.

She was also issued with a restraining order banning her from contacting her husband for 12 months.

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Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Tweedy said: ‘I don’t support the restraining order as it will make access between her and our child difficult. We can’t be amicable because of the restraining order but if there wasn’t one in place then I’m sure we would be.

‘The problem was just alcohol, she was admitted to hospital twice in the past year and could have died. Something had to change. It’s not the kind of problem where she wakes up needing alcohol, it’s just the binge drinking at weekends that’s caused this.

‘Hopefully now she can get the hope she needs.’