Ken Gregory, Man Scalded By His Wife, Speaks Out About Male Domestic Abuse Victims

Man Scalded By Wife Speaks Out For Male Domestic Violence Victims
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A man who was left with first and second degree burns after being scalded with boiling water by his wife has spoken out in solidarity with other male victims of domestic abuse.

Ken Gregory, 65, from Peterborough, was scalded by his now ex-wife in March last year.

He has encouraged other male victims of domestic violence to speak up, saying: "Being attacked by a woman is nothing to be ashamed of."

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Gregory said the attack was the culmination of escalating verbal abuse from his spouse

Teresa Gilbertson, 60, has been convicted of grievous bodily harm and currently awaits sentencing.

On the day of the attack Gregory, a retired BT manager, had planned to visit the grave of his first wife but ended up arguing with Gilbertson and agreeing on divorce.

She went to make a cup of tea but came back with a jug of boiling water and poured it down her then-husband's neck.

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Gilbertson shouted "there you go" as she poured the water down his back, Peterborough Crown Court heard

This incident came just weeks after Gregory required hospital treatment after Gilbertson threw hot tea over him.

"As a man who is a bit older and who isn't exactly small, there is a perception that you can't be a victim of domestic violence.

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"I was worried that people would assume that it was my fault and she was the victim - there is still a general perception that, as a strong man against a weaker female, you must have been the protagonist.

"But it should be the same message that they put out for women - don't be frightened, you don't have to put up with it.

"There are still too many barriers that men face in feeling comfortable in coming forward and getting help."

Gilbertson will be sentenced on 24 March.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact ManKind at 01823 334244.

Male victims of domestic violence
Humphrey Bogart(02 of06)
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Humphrey Bogart was allegedly abused by his wife Mayo Methot. According to Wikipedia Bogart was once stabbed in the back with a butcher knife in an incident that was kept out of the press by the publicity department at Warner Bros. During a dinner party, Methot produced a handgun and threatened Bogart in front of their guests, IMDB adds. (credit:PA)
Roger Moore and Dorothy Squires(03 of06)
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Roger Moore revealed former wife Dorothy Squires "had a great temper". Speaking on Piers Morgans' Life Stories, Moore recounted how Squires once thumped him on the head with a guitar. (credit:PA)
Christian Slater(04 of06)
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Christian Slater's then-wife Ryan Haddon was arrested on domestic violence charges in 2003 after an incident which saw a whisky glass smashed over his head. Slater received stitches in hospital. (credit:PA)
Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston(05 of06)
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In an interview with the AP 10 years ago, Whitney said, "Contrary to belief, I do the hitting, he doesn't. He has never put his hands on me. We are crazy for one another. I mean crazy in love, love, love, love, love. When we're fighting, it's like that's love for us. We're fighting for our love." In 2003, police responded to a domestic-violence 911 call to their Georgia home and discovered Houston with a bruised cheek and a cut lip. Brown subsequently turned himself in and was charged with misdemeanor battery, The Daily Beast reported. (credit:PA)
Ross Kemp and Rebekah Wade (06 of06)
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In 2005 Rebekah Brooks (then Wade), editor of The Sun, was arrested for an alleged assault on her husband, EastEnders actor Ross Kemp. Scotland Yard said Mr Kemp sustained a cut to the mouth but declined medical treatment. Rival newspapers gleefully pointed out the arrest had come while The Sun was running a campaign against domestic violence. No further action was taken and the pair variously described the incident as "fuss about nothing" and "a silly row that got out of hand." (credit:PA)