I'd scream at father to stop as he hit mum over and over

Acting legend speaks out about domestic violence

- RUSSELL MYERS

AS a young boy, Patrick Stewart saw his mother beaten time and time again by his father, and from an early age attempted to shield her from the blows.

Now the 84-year-old actor has told of the abuse he witnessed in an ITV documentary following Queen Camilla's work with domestic violence campaigners and victims.

In unseen clips, Patrick tells how his "perfect" life with his mum Gladys and older brother Trevor was shattered when he was six and his father Alfred came home from the war.

He said: "My life with my mother and my brother was perfect. We got on well. There was no arguing or shouting or getting upset or anything like that. It was just wonderful.

"The war ended in 1945, so I was, by the time my father came home, I was six years old, and it was horrifying.