Antiques expert and television personality Charles Hanson has been accused of domestic abuse, coercive control, and physical violence against his wife over a decade-long period. The allegations paint a disturbing picture of manipulation, psychological control, and repeated instances of violence within their marriage.
Sky News reports that the 45-year-old arrived at Derby Crown Court on February 10 as he faced charges stemming from a domestic incident reported to police at his £1.5 million home in Derbyshire, England, in June 2023.
Hanson, widely recognized for his appearances on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip, has denied all charges, which include controlling or coercive behaviour between 2015 and 2023, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2020, and two counts of assault by beating in 2022 and 2023.
The case highlights the deeply entrenched patterns of coercive control, a form of domestic abuse that is often invisible but profoundly damaging. It involves psychological manipulation, isolation, threats, and domination, making it incredibly difficult for victims to leave.
Allegations of Physical Violence
Rebecca Hanson, who gave her testimony from behind a screen, described several instances of physical violence, including an attack while she was pregnant. She recalled one particularly terrifying incident when her husband allegedly put her in a headlock during an argument.
“I turned around to protect my stomach and my baby. He got me around the throat. He’s behind me with his arm around my throat, tight, with my head back… I froze. I was absolutely petrified and in shock.” [via The BBC]
She described how Hanson seemed momentarily shocked at what he had done, but the abuse did not stop there. She spoke of years of enduring controlling behaviour, being physically attacked, and manipulated into believing things would change.
On another occasion, May 2021, Mrs Hanson alleged that her husband “threatened to put burning embers from the fire” on her. She took photographs of her injuries and documented his behaviour, later showing her father evidence of bruising.
Coercive Control: The ‘Invisible’ Form of Abuse
Beyond the physical violence, Rebecca Hanson also detailed how her husband used coercive control to dominate her life. Coercive control is a strategic form of abuse where an individual exerts power over another person through fear, isolation, and manipulation.
Mrs Hanson described how her husband made decisions without her consent, disregarded her wishes, and used mind games to assert dominance.
One of the reasons coercive control is so insidious is that it keeps victims trapped in an invisible cage. The psychological impact of constant belittlement, fear, and control can be just as damaging as physical violence.
Mrs Hanson detailed how her husband’s actions made her feel as though she was losing control over her own life, with her ability to make decisions or stand up for herself being gradually eroded over time.
Why Victims Stay Silent
One of the critical issues in domestic abuse cases is why victims often do not call the police or seek immediate help. When questioned about why she did not report Hanson earlier, Mrs Hanson explained the psychological traps that keep victims from leaving abusive relationships.
“I always say ‘I’m going to call the police,’ and he knows I never will. He apologises and says he will never do it again. You think it’s going to get better. It just goes on and on and on.” [via The BBC.]
Her statement reflects a common cycle in abusive relationships: the abuser inflicts harm, apologizes, makes promises of change, and the victim, hoping for things to improve, chooses to stay—only for the cycle to repeat.
This cycle is further reinforced by gaslighting, a tactic where the abuser manipulates the victim into doubting their own perceptions and experiences. When Mrs Hanson described his abusive behaviour, his defense team attempted to portray her as being “selfish, ungrateful, and spiteful”—a classic tactic known as DARVO (Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender), where abusers deflect blame onto their victims.
In another example of manipulation, Charles Hanson denied choking his wife in a headlock, describing it as giving her a tight and affectionate hug around the shoulder.
The trial against Charles Hanson, which is expected to last up to two weeks, continues.
Featured image: Charles Hanson faces charges of coercive and controlling behaviour. Source: YouTube Screenshot / GBNews.
