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A mum has begged male victims of domestic abuse to speak up – after her son was killed when his lover stabbed him in the face with a broken plate.

Paul Lavelle, 50, slowly bled to death from a cut to his nostril after Sarah Lewis lashed out with a jagged shard.

A court heard that instead of dialling 999, alarm fitter Paul left a message on a client’s number.

The dad of three said he needed to get to hospital, adding: “This place is a bloodbath, it’s a f***ing bloodbath.”

The client did not pick up the voicemail in time to save Everton fan Paul.

Have you been a victim of domestic abuse and want to share your story? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

And when Lewis, 46, returned next day he was dead.

She was jailed for seven-and-a-half years after admitting manslaughter over the drunken clash in Birkenhead, Merseyside.

Now Paul’s mum Barbara and brother Andrew have told of their despair – and how they launched the Paul Lavelle Foundation to help men suffering abuse.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

They believe pride stopped Paul ­admitting he was being abused “by a girl”.

Liverpool Crown Court heard police had been called out several times during his stormy year-long relationship with Lewis, who he met on dating site Plenty of Fish.

Barbara, 74, said: “Men need to get over the macho act. If we can save one life by speaking about this it will be worth it.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

“Paul didn’t speak to us about what was happening. If he had then maybe we could have helped. Domestic violence happens both ways. It’s not just men hurting women.

“But for men it’s a difficult subject. They don’t want to admit they are being abused by a woman. And in many cases they don’t know where to go to for help.

“We are going to be offering help and advice on who to speak to, where to go. Men need to speak out, speak to anyone.

“Don’t suffer in silence. Don’t bottle it up. Drop the macho act because I can assure you, you’re not the only guy in that position.”

(Image: Sunday Mirror)

Andrew, 47, said: “The number of people contacting us has been enlightening and shocking. There’s a mixture of embarrassment and shame about being beaten up by a girl. We need to get over that.

“Paul had the chance to speak to me when I saw him at the gym. He had a bruise on his leg with a puncture mark on it. He said he’d done it at work with a screwdriver.

“It turns out she stabbed him in the leg. He could have spoken about it. Again it was the macho thing, not wanting to admit to his brother he was being hit by his girlfriend.”