The ManKind Initiative

02/06/2026

Phillip Rees suffered from terrible domestic abuse from his wife (Susan Rees) for 42 years. Awful.

The conviction is pitiful - 23 month suspended sentence and a two year restraining order. No deterrent. No justice.

We are very confident that if the genders were reversed, the sentence would not have been suspended.

Susan Rees is a 73-year-old elderly pensioner. But, behind the walking stick, was an angry, controlling wife who abused her husband of over 40 years. She would call him a “useless f******g c** and a “t***” and even held a scorching hot frying pan to his cheek, causing his skin to burn and blister

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Susan, from south Wales, subjected her husband of 42 years, Phillip Rees, to awful physical and verbal aggression.

The court heard how Mr Rees described his relationship with his wife as "complicated" with many days going by where things were fine but some days would result in arguments which would see him assaulted.

He said his wife would regularly be verbally abusive towards him using horrible names and swear words that would make him feel "small and worthless".

As part of his ordeal he described accidentally breaking a dish in the living room leading to Susan discovering a piece of china he had missed while clearing up. This made her angry and she began cutting the top of his hands with the broken china causing him to bleed a lot due to his age.

There were other occasions, he explained in his account, where Susan would become physically aggressive toward him, grabbing his ears with her nails, dragging them forward, causing scram marks behind his ears.

He also said Susan would also scram his face and back and would spit in his face during the majority of arguments they had.

The court was also told of an incident where Susan had held a scorching hot frying pan to her husband's cheek causing his skin to burn and blister, and held a phone charger lead around his neck and pulled it at both ends so that it went tight.

Mr Rees said that if he ever brought up the argument or the abuse, Susan would make him swear on a person's life that he would not bring up what happened 😞💔

02/06/2026

"'People will believe you': Leeds abuse advocate urges men to seek help"

Huge thank you to Darryl Matthews, a male survivor of domestic abuse, for this vitally important message. Please read below.

‘There’s support out there, and people will believe you’

02/06/2026

As starts we would like to reiterate we support all male victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

22/05/2026

Our team have been very busy this week answering helpline calls, training and speaking to partners across the UK.

Yesterday our team were at RAF Leeming AND the Aldershot Garrison as part of our vital work in supporting male victims and survivors within the Armed Forces.

12/05/2026

We have a first class recovery programme for male survivors of domestic abuse that continually receives great feedback. The programme called "Acorn" was developed and is managed by
Marilyn ManKind


For details, please visit: https://mankind.org.uk/for-professionals/pattern-changing-course-male-survivors/

11/05/2026

It's which we fully support. Nearly all the victims who call our helpline are going through psychological and emotional harm!

Please do call our helpline or reach out to mental health helplines and find out more info here - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week

29/04/2026

Report shows 27% of domestic abuse linked su***des feature a male victim.

We believe it is higher due to the male non-disclosure before they died and police and definitely coroners not believing bereaved families because it was a man. We regularly get calls from bereaved mums telling us coroners don't "want to hear about it".

Growing awareness of su***de following domestic abuse has driven an increase in recorded deaths linked to domestic abuse in the past year.

26/04/2026

Good luck to Dan Platt today in running the TCS London Marathon and raising funds for our helpline.

If you would like to support him and us, please see details below 👇

Good luck Dan!

Help Dan Platt raise money to support Mankind Initiative

24/04/2026

Our Chair Mark Brooks spoke at the UK House of Lords Committee analysing the Domestic Abuse Act. He raised the lack of men coming forward, non-inclusive training, poor response /disbelief when they do, family courts and why they are called victims of violence against women? Start 11:47👇

22/04/2026

Office for National Statistics stats below show the numbers of men who have been stalked and figures including from current/ex partner and cyber stalking.

If you are a man who is being stalked- please get in touch with the excellent National Stalking Helpline helpline or call the police.