The Repair Shop star opens up on leaving abusive marriage ‘without any support’

THE Repair Shop star Suzie Fletcher has spoken out about leaving her abusive marriage "without any support".

During an interview with Lorraine Kelly, Suzie said she felt "trapped" in a forceful marriage with her ex-husband, Rob while living in America.

They met when Suzie travelled to the United States in her 30s, and married three months after she moved to Denver.

But she told Lorraine that the relationship began to crumble because of Rob's abusive behaviour.

Suzie said: "It's really difficult with some people as everyone has their faults, but as I got to know him better I realised he was massively traumatised as a child."

"That brought on some coping mechanisms which are not exactly healthy and he was using alcohol to help numb the pain, and I did learn as time went on how massively damaged he was."

Suzie explained that Rob had a troubled upbringing played a big part in his abuse, and that the "bad treatment" towards her "came from his own insecurities and his inability to cope with life".

She shared: "My circumstances were quite different as well because I'd moved to another country, I didn't have the support of old friends and the family and things like that which can make a huge difference.

"We were good together, weirdly, but we did have this element which was not healthy and I am really interested in looking at why this occurs and to try and find a solution."

Suzie made her television debut on The Repair Shop in 2013, five years before Rob passed away after a cancer fight.

The BBC personality is currently single, but she told Lorraine that she "loves men" and that "you never say never" because she has many "lovely male friends."