Fetish shame may hinder cry for help

Campaigners against domestic violence fear that shame over a fetish lifestyle may prevent women in danger from seeking help.

In the wake of the Graham Dwyer trial, Women’s Aid has appealed to women wanting to escape a sexually violent relationship to make contact.

The organisation’s last annual report shows it handled 575 disclosures of sexual violence over a 12-month period, including women who were raped, beaten up for refusing sex, drugged and raped, and forced to carry out humiliating sexual acts.