A new Channel 5 documentary reveals the 20 harrowing years of abuse Richard Spencer suffered at the hands of his wife, Sheree
My heart went out to Richard Spencer who found himself at the hands of an evil abuser who was also his wife and mother of his children.
There is now a Channel 5 documentary of the above title documenting the horrific events that Richard suffered and his children witnessed.
The 90-minute feature documentary, shows never-before-seen video footage of the abuse suffered by Richard Spencer at the hands of his wife, Sheree, written testimonials, photographs and audio recordings.
Richard made the decision to share his story in a bid to raise awareness about other male victims of domestic abuse.
From the outside, Richard and Sheree Spencer appeared to have an idyllic family. He was a successful IT designer, while she had a senior job with the Ministry of Justice. The couple lived in a six-bedroom house in East Yorkshire with their three daughters.
But behind the scenes, Sheree Spencer subjected her husband to a campaign of abuse, humiliation and terror for 20 years.
Sheree subjected Richard to a horrific range of ongoing physical and verbal abuse, spitting and punching her husband, causing bruises and scratches he covered with make-up before going out, and locking him out of the house. During one attack with a wine bottle, she left him with a permanently disfigured ear.
Camera footage of bruises inflicted by Sheree Spencer on her husband, Richard (Photo: Atticus Film & Television/Channel 5)
She also controlled him financially, forcing him to take out loans to pay for holidays and refusing to pay her share of bills to “punish” him.
Richard said that if he ever tried to restrain her or stop her attacking him, “what came next would be 10 times worse”.
And to ensure he kept the abuse a secret, Sheree threatened to make false allegations against him to the police. “You’ll never win,” she told him.
Camera footage at the Spencer family home of Sheree brandishing a knife at Richard (Photo: Atticus Film & Television/Channel 5)
The verbal and physical attacks against Richard by his wife even took place in front of their three young children, those children could be scared with the memories for life,
The couple bought and installed nanny cams after the birth of their eldest daughter in 2015.
Richard said: “We had two – one in the playroom and one in the bedroom.
“They were there for reassurance, to keep an eye out because it’s a big house.”
As the abuse escalated, Richard began to keep recordings, photographs and audio of his wife’s abuse which he emailed to himself and deleted from his phone, so Sheree would not discover it.
One particularly vile incident saw Sheree defecate on the floor before forcing Richard to clean up her mess.
The truth about the abuse occurred when Sheree contacted one of Richard’s friends claiming he was drunk and that she was scared he might do something.
When the friend arrived, Richard revealed the truth of what had been happening, showing his friend the video footage when they were alone, prompting him to contact the police on Richard’s behalf.
After Sheree was arrested, he handed over 43 images of his injuries following physical attacks he had suffered.
Richard Spencer is now trying to rebuild his life (Photo: Atticus Film & Television)
Following a long investigation by Humberside Police, Sheree Spencer pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour and three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
She was jailed for four years in February 2023 and given an indefinite restraining order.
During the court hearing, judge Kate Rayfield said: “This is the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviour I have seen.”
Richard Spencer is in the process of rebuilding his life. He said: “I have become resigned to the fact that I will never fully recover from her abuse and that it will have a permanent damaging impact on mine and my family’s life.
“Sheree’s abuse towards me evolved and escalated over time, she used repeated acts of physical assault, threats, verbal abuse, and humiliation to punish and exercise control over me.
“The abuse was hidden from the outside world, including friends and family. Sheree manipulated me into believing that I was a responsible and willing participant in the abuse.
“She remorselessly proclaimed that I deserved to be punished, and that it was a justifiable consequence of me disappointing her in some way.”
Sheree Spencer received a four year jail sentence, in my opinion it was to lenient.
During questioning and up to the start of the trial she blatantly lied, blaming all on Richard, her admission was only fir her own benefit with the aim of a reduced custodial sentence.
I hope Richard and his children can now move on without this evil individual, when she is released questions need to be asked about the safety of Richard and the children as I don't doubt she wants revenge for her sentence.
Between now and then she may meet her match whilst inside.
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