A BATTERED wife subjected to more than two decades of abuse is calling on other victims of domestic violence to break their silence.

Margaret Stockton was speaking following the sentencing of her estranged husband Denis at Croydon Crown Court last week.

The 62-year-old pleaded guilty to four charges of causing actual bodily harm and one of putting a person in fear of violence.

He was sentenced to 100 hours' community service and ordered to pay £750 costs.

The court heard how Mrs Stockton had been punched in the face and thrown down the stairs.

Guitar teacher Stockton, of Saville Row, Bromley, had also written threatening notes in her diary pretending to be her saying he would kill her on her birthday.

Mrs Stockton, who now lives with her son Nick, says the sentencing has brought to a close a traumatic chapter in her life.

The couple married in 1968 and were happy until a few years into the marriage when the mental and physical abuse started.

Mrs Stockton says the violence would come out of the blue sometimes she would be punched first thing in the morning because Stockton had woken "in a mood".

The couple split five years ago and Mrs Stockton, 68, finally reported him to the police in 2003 after she saw an anti-abuse campaign.

He was charged in March after police used evidence from Mrs Stockton's medical records plus the threatening notes in her diary.

The grandmother-of-four says it was difficult to come forward because she cared about him and there were good times in her marriage.

She said: "In my day and age, domestic violence wasn't talked about.

"You were made to believe it was your fault, you were the guilty one.

"It's awful when you're 60 and still being knocked around but the mental abuse is 50 times worse.

"I feel like nothing. I have no confidence and even now I still can't go out socially."

Mrs Stockton says she is determined to encourage others to break the cycle of abuse.

She said: "I want to tell people because there must be other people suffering out there as I did, who want to come forward.

"All I wanted was for him to say sorry but he is such a proud man, he never would."

She added: "In some ways justice has been done because for him, the shame of appearing in court is a great punishment."

Her son Nick says he has not spoken to his father for five years after Stockton disowned him for defending his mother.

The 30-year-old, of Hayesford Park Drive, Bromley, said: "The only way I will see justice being served is if everyone knows what such a respected man is really like."

The IT engineer added: "One day I will have to explain to my three-year-old son why he doesn't have a granddad. It won't be an easy discussion.

"It's something I don't even understand because I look at my son and cannot imagine not ever wanting to know him."

  • If you are a victim of domestic violence, call Women's Aid 24-hour national domestic violence helpline on 0808 2000 247.