Catterick woman, 58, arrested for controlling behaviour after asking husband to ...

A cleaner was arrested and locked in a cell for 17 hours after being accused of controlling behaviour because she asked her husband for help with household chores.

Valerie Sanders said that she asked bodybuilder husband Michael, 58, to clean the patio doors, hoover and go to the gym less.

However Mrs Sanders, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, ended up facing charges of controlling behaviour, The Sun reports.

Her case was thrown out just before it went to trial.

Coercive or controlling behaviour in family or intimate relationships became a crime in December 2015 following a campaign to tackle non-physical abuse.

Official figures show than 97 per cent of prosecutions are against men and since the law came into force, 7,304 people have been arrested but only 1,157 were charged and just 235 were convicted.

Valerie Sanders was charged with controlling and coercive behaviour towards husband Michael, pictured at their wedding five years ago

Valerie Sanders was charged with controlling and coercive behaviour towards husband Michael, pictured at their wedding five years ago

Michael Sanders' wife, Valerie, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, ended up facing charges of controlling behaviour for asking him to clean the patio doors, hoover and go to the gym less

Michael Sanders' wife, Valerie, from Catterick, North Yorkshire, ended up facing charges of controlling behaviour for asking him to clean the patio doors, hoover and go to the gym less

Mrs Sanders called the charges 'outrageous' and said that she was 'treated like a criminal' for asking her husband to do his bit around the house.

Four police officers and two vans arrived to arrest the 4ft 10in tall woman and she was charged with 'coercive or controlling behaviour' towards her 16 stone husband.

However the trial collapsed this week just before it was meant to start, 14 months after her arrest.

Mrs Sanders, who runs a cleaning company, told the Sun: 'It's outrageous this ever got to court.

'He was training all the time. He was eating five or six meals a day and mushing up all his food in the blender.

'I was working and he was at the gym from early in the morning until late at night. I just didn't see him.

Valerie and Michael Sanders pictured on a Greek holiday together in 2015

Valerie and Michael Sanders pictured on a Greek holiday together in 2015

4ft 10in Mrs Sanders was locked in cell for 17 hours after being arrested by police

4ft 10in Mrs Sanders was locked in cell for 17 hours after being arrested by police

'He started to do bodybuilding competitions. It wasn't attractive. It

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