Sheree Spencer: How woman who subjected husband to vile abuse was caught out using nanny cam footage

A woman who subjected her husband to years of vile abuse was eventually caught out after nanny cam footage captured her campaign of terror against him.

Sheree Spencer, who had a high-ranking position working for the Ministry of Justice was only caught when her shocking actions against her husband Richard were laid bare in horrifying footage from a nanny cam.

Violent and abusive Spencer sadistically assaulted and humiliated her husband, abusing him repeatedly emotionally and physically. During one incident, Sheree spat at her husband and choked him.

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She also threatened him with a knife and would falsely accuse him of being an abuser. In another incident she struck him over the head with a wine glass and also exerted financial control over him, forcing him to take out loans for holidays and refusing to contribute towards bills as 'punishment'.

The true crime documentary, which previously aired on Channel 5, has now been added to Netflix. Detailing Richard's brave story, it has launched to the top of the Netflix UK top chart.

My Wife, My Abuser features Richard, who said the attacks started out shortly after their relationship began, speaking out about his ill-treatment the a judge called it the ‘worse case of coercive and controlling behaviour’ they had ever seen.

Mr Spencer later handed over 43 photographs of injuries, 36 video clips and nine mobile phone recordings to the police. In February last year, Spencer was jailed for four years after admitting coercive and controlling behaviour.

A court head how the Spencers had been together since 2000 and lived in a seven bedroom house in a village near York. They had three young children and appeared to be a picture-perfect family of five. But behind closed doors Sheree regularly assaulted her husband - kicking, punching, hitting, biting and spitting at him and hurling insults at him.

Richard said the attacks started shortly after their relationship began, escalating over the years. But Sheree Spencer's violent actions were captured on a nanny cam in their home that eventually played a crucial role in her conviction.

Footage from the camera was released publicly for the first time and shown in the crime documentary. The couple bought the cameras shortly after Sheree gave birth to their eldest daughter in 2015.

However Richard began to save footage recorded on nanny cams as an ‘insurance’ to stop her from blocking access to his kids in the future.

Sheree was finally brought to justice after one of Richard's friends saw the shocking footage of her abuse and reported it to the police. She had contacted the friend, claiming Richard was drunk and said she feared Richard might do something.

But Richard later admitted what was happening when the friend came round and they were alone, telling him how he got a bruise on his face. He showed the friend one of the videos, prompting the visit to police on his behalf.

Spencer would sometimes drink three bottles of wine a day during the appalling "catalogue" of abuse. But her defence barrister Richard Pratt KC told the court there was "little if anything" that could be said in mitigation.

He said: "It's a shocking, distressing case. Alcohol played the most significant part in what happened."

Jailing her for four years in March 2023, Judge Kate Rayfield told her: "You have caused him significant psychological harm. There is a history of violence and abuse against the same victim." She was also given an indefinite restraining order.

Domestic abuse help

If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, below you’ll find a list of organisations who can assist you:

Call the UK police non-emergency number, 101, if you need support or advice from the police and it's not an emergency. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service on 18001 101.

Greater Manchester Domestic Abuse Helpline - Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays. For anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Includes a language service and advice for the LGBT community.

End the Fear - Includes information on local help all over Greater Manchester.

Wigan and Leigh Dias drop-in centre - Works with women and men who are experiencing or recovering from domestic violence and abusive relationships and helps them to regain control of the situation.

Other support available can be found via: www.gmp.police.uk.

Speaking to the media after Spencer was jailed, Richard said: “I have become resigned to the fact that I will never fully recover from her abuse and that it will have a permanent damaging impact on mine and my family's life. Sheree manipulated me into believing that I was a responsible and willing participant in the abuse. She remorselessly proclaimed that I deserved to be punished."

My Wife, My Abuser is available to watch on Netflix now.