Inside the UK’s only domestic abuse refuge for women with learning disabilities: ‘They tried to get me to eat cat food and cigarette butts’

In an undisclosed location in London, the lives of women who have suffered unimaginable abuse are being turned around, writes Maya Oppenheim

Domestic abuse is substantially more prevalent among women who have a learning disability (Getty)

“My friend’s partner started saying he was going to burn me,” says Mel*. “I was really frightened. They took my phone away and snapped my SIM. They tried to get me to eat cat food and cigarette butts.”

Desperate to get away, the 25-year-old, who has a learning disability, escaped through a window and was eventually tracked down by police.

After two days in intensive care, Mel was referred to Beverley Lewis House, the only domestic abuse refuge in the UK specifically for women who have learning disabilities.