Viewers of 999: What's Your Emergency? were outraged last night after a female police officer claimed a wheelchair-bound man with cerebral palsy who was beaten up by his wife is not a 'long term' victim of domestic abuse because he wasn't 'crying his eyes out'.

Last night the Channel 4 show focused on Northamptonshire police - a force which dealt with more than 9,000 incidents of domestic violence in 2018.

PC Hannah Lambert revealed she was attracted to join the police following her own experience of a toxic relationship which turned violent.

'I was a victim of domestic abuse and it gave me a real sense of, I want to help people, I want to help people that were me,' she said.

Viewers of 999: What's Your Emergency? were outraged last night after a female police officer claimed a wheelchair-bound man with cerebral palsy who was beaten up by his wife is not a 'long term' victim of domestic abuse because he wasn't 'crying his eyes out'

One of the victims she was called to assist in last night's show was Christian, a man with cerebral palsy who'd had 'ten bells knocked out of him' by his partner-of-20-years, Louise.

He told how a heated row over money had turned violent and Louise 'lashed out', punching him repeatedly and knocking him off the sofa.

Christian explained he felt he had no choice but to call the police but still pledged to stand by his wife 'no matter what'.

Viewers saw red when PC Lambert deduced that Christian wasn't a victim of 'long-term domestic abuse' because he wasn't 'sitting their petrified crying his eyes out'.

Christian explained he felt he had no choice but to call the police after his wife knocked 'ten bells' out of him during a row over money

Viewers saw red when PC Lambert deduced that Christian wasn't a victim of 'long term domestic abuse' because he wasn't 'sitting their petrified crying his eyes out'

Several took to Twitter, where one wrote: 'So police lady is victim of domestic assault. Following assault on a disabled male by his female partner, she concluded as he was not hysterical, traumatised, fearing for his life, he is not a victim of long term domestic abuse!!!? WTF? Pure sexist comment.'

Another called her out for showing sympathy towards Louise, with one tweeting: 'She assaulted a man in a wheelchair FFS.'

Speaking about her own experience of having a violent partner, PC Lambert said she got 'sucked in quick' after growing up in a normal family having never experienced domestic abuse or assault.

'Before I knew it I was in a relationship where I didn't recognise what it was, I just knew it wasn't right,' she recalled.

PC Hannah Lambert, a victim of domestic assault herself, tended to Christian's wife Louise during the call out

'If it hadn't been for what I went through, would I be doing this job? Probably not because… my eyes wouldn't have been opened to actually, how much help you can give somebody by being that first person there.'

She added: 'Predominantly we get a lot of female victims but we do go to male victims and the support's no different, our response is no different to them.'

When PC Lambert and her colleague arrived at the scene, Christian explained that Louise had started 'lashing out' after he criticised her for having little control over her spending.

'She started lashing out at me, punching me, punching my foot and knocking me over the sofa and everything else,' he recalled.

Christian explained that Louise had started 'lashing out' after he criticised her for having little control over her spending, leaving him 'shaken up'

'She was pushing me so I pushed her back to defend myself, and tried grabbing her to stop her, but next thing I know she started knocking ten bells out of me.'

Christian explained he has cerebral palsy and his foot was hurting from where his wife had been punching it.

'Ringing the police, having them come out, was a big decision, but my back was against the wall, with my cerebral palsy I wasn't prepared to take the risk,' he admitted.

Asked if he would be prepared to give a statement to the police, Christian said he didn't want to get Louise 'nicked'; he just wanted someone to have a 'severe word' with her because 'this can't carry on'.

Speaking about her own experience, PC Lambert said she got 'sucked in quick' after growing up in a normal family having never experienced domestic abuse or violence

'It's not the first time she's done it,' he added. 'I thought it was under control, but anything can trigger her off. She just snapped and I'm quite shaken up.'

Speaking to camera, having tended to a tearful Louise in the bedroom, PC Lambert said: 'Something in my gut said that this wasn't systematic, long term abuse between them; he wasn't a victim that's sitting there petrified, crying their eyes out, scared for their life, controlled, told what they can and can't do, where they can go, who they can see.

'She was his carer and I think she was struggling. But she'd assaulted him and that's no reason to assault somebody.'

Louise (left) admitted she 'just lost it' with Christian (right), explaining: ' I saw red, and I laid into him. I punched him, punched him in the leg, in the hip, and just got hold of the photos of the wedding and ripped them up. It broke my heart and I just regret everything that I done

Louise was arrested and taken to the police station. She admitted she had been arrested in the past for 'drugs', explaining that she has been laying off pills and cocaine for 14 years which has been 'tough'.

Christian later told how he and Louise care for each other and said his wife is 'crying out for help' as she suffers from a personality disorder.

Repentant for her actions, Louise admitted she 'just lost it', explaining: 'I saw red, and I laid into him. I punched him, punched him in the leg, in the hip, and just got hold of the photos of the wedding and ripped them up. It broke my heart and I just regret everything that I done (sic).

'I describe Christian as a best friend and soulmate. He helped me a lot when I came off the drugs, I love him so much.

Louise, pictured on her wedding day to Christian, tore up some of their photos during her explosion of rage

'I've got a personality disorder so I'm still trying to work around how our relationship should be happy and not sad.'

Christian added: 'Yeah she assaulted me, but locking her up for however long, no way. I'm prepared to stick by her no matter what. I'm not going to abandon her, she's been through enough.'

Many viewers took to Twitter to reflect on the complexities and reality of domestic abuse.

One tweeted: 'The complexity of dealing with domestic abuse where mental health, financial and other social issues are at play, laid bare this evening on #999WhatsYourEmergency. So many difficult decisions officers have to make in order to achieve the most appropriate outcome.'

Louise admitted she struggles with a personality disorder and sometimes struggles in their relationship

Many viewers took to Twitter to reflect on the complexities of the reality of domestic abuse and praise the police for their handling of the difficult cases

Another wrote: 'Domestic violence is not defined by gender or sexuality. It happens in any relationship sadly... People need to feel able to speak up without discrimination.'

'So good to see these police officers appreciating that victims of domestic violence are not just women!' commented another.

But others criticised the way Christian's case was handled, with one tweeting: 'Feel they played down the female on male domestic abuse on #999WhatsYourEmergency just because he isn't crying hysterically doesn't mean he's not a victim of an abusive situation.'

Another wrote: 'Female cop shows sympathy to woman who beat her husband... If it was a man he'd be straight in the van.'

Others criticised the way Christian's case was handled, with one tweeting: 'Feel they played down the female on male domestic abuse on #999WhatsYourEmergency just becauyse he isn't crying hysterically doesn't mean he's not a victim of an abusive situation'

999: What's Your Emergency continues next Monday at 9pm on Channel 4.