I’m the only reason my husband’s not in prison but he’s still abusing me mentally

DEAR DEIDRE: I’M the only person keeping my husband out of prison.

He’s facing a long sentence and I have allowed him to stay with me because he’d be remanded in custody otherwise.

I’m doing it for the sake of our eight-year-old daughter.

I’d do anything for her.

But my husband’s been abusive throughout our ten-year marriage and is still abusing me mentally now.

I’m 33 and he’s 34. I no longer love him and am so angry over the way he’s treated me.

I can’t keep putting him first, but I can’t hurt my daughter.

DEIDRE SAYS: You can’t live like this and, while you want to do the right thing for your daughter, she’ll be picking up on the tension at home, which is damaging.

My support pack on Abusive Partners explains more.

Talk it through with the Prisoners’ Families Helpline (prisonersfamilies.org, 0808 808 2003) which offers support for families who have a family member in contact with the criminal justice system.