An Australian man who was an ambassador for the domestic violence movement White Ribbon has been jailed for putting his wife through years of abuse.
Jon Seccull, 43, publicly campaigned against domestic violence but behind closed doors raped and abused his then-wife.
The County Court of Victoria heard how his ex-wife Michelle Skewes was also pressured into having sex with other men and was once urinated on during the four and a half years of humiliation and violence, reports News.com.au.
In a statement following his sentencing, Ms Skewes, who gave NCA NewsWire permission to name her, said: "Make no mistake, the road to this point has been an extremely challenging one but it has been worth every painful and humiliating step.
"I remain dumbfounded by how much acutely personal and embarrassing information I had to present, confirm and reconfirm before the court would accept it as evidence."
At a pre-sentencing hearing, Ms Skewes told the court how the toll of the abuse often left her sobbing on a daily basis as a result.
She has lost friends as a result of the isolation and abuse, as well as after outing the abuse of a man seen as a "good bloke".
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Seccull’s lawyer tried to claim Ms Skewes was "hateful", "demonic", and a "pathological liar" but this was rejected by Judge Frank Gucciardo, who praised the victim’s statement.
The judge called the case of abuse "a brutal, brutish, cowardly rape encompassing punishment".
Judge Gucciardo said the incidents were not "spontaneous" but were in response to "long-held fantasies and cruel desires".
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Seccull continued to deny the charge throughout and refused to show any remorse.
He was jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of nine counts of rape, two of common assault and threatening to inflict serious injury.
Seccull will spend at least 10 years and six months in prison before he can be eligible for parole.
He will also be registered as a sex offender for life.
If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge's 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247
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