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The vast majority of victims of domestic violence are women, but - in the UK at least - an increasing number of men are coming forward to reveal that they have been emotionally and physically abused by their female partners.

One of them is Ian McNicholl, who faced a terrible ordeal at the hands of his former partner.

Over the course of their relationship she alienated him from friends and family, took charge of the household accounts and violently attacked him.

On one occasion he was reading the newspaper in the living room when she came and poured boiling water all over his lap.

During the last attack he suffered a fracture skull and one arm was beaten so badly doctors were considering amputation.

It was at this point that a neighbour called the police.

In the safe environment of the blacked out police van Ian finally admitted what had been happening to him.

"I knew that what was going on was wrong but I didn't feel as though I had any escape. I was literally just about functioning. And it was just a challenge to get through the morning without an assault, to go to bed without having your cheekbones fractured or being assaulted with something in the house."

Ian's former partner is now in prison serving a seven year sentence for causing grevious and actual bodily harm to him.

Ian has decided to speak publicly about his trauma to encourage other male victims to come forward and to challenge prejudices on the subject.

He spoke to Outlook's Matthew Bannister and described his continued abuse.