‘Anika’ was an Indian woman, married to a white British national who had sponsored her and her child from her previous marriage to come to the UK on a spousal visa.
Once in the country, her husband began to take complete control over her, which included denying her and her child access to food. He began to find ways of manipulating Anika’s powerless position as a dependent spouse to humiliate and persecute her.
On one occasion, he harmed himself by knocking his head against the wall resulting in bruising, which he showed to his brother and the police, alleging that his wife was responsible. His brother called the police and Anika was arrested.
Fortunately, due to intensive support and advocacy on Anika’s behalf by a specialist domestic abuse charity, she was not charged and managed to get her child back and gain support.