A CAMPAIGNER has accused a Gwent MP of showing a “lack of empathy” towards an alleged victim of domestic abuse – an accusation the politician staunchly denies.

Rachel Williams, who is a survivor of domestic abuse herself, had accompanied the victim to a meeting with Monmouth MP David Davies in August.

The meeting concerned the victim feeling there had been a “miscarriage of justice” in regards to a dispute over having custody of her children.

According to Ms Williams, who attended the meeting as a Safe Lives-trained independent domestic violence advisor (IDVA), the MP began the meeting with a “poorly-judged” opening comment.

“He said ‘obviously something must have been done to warrant losing custody of the children,’” said Ms Williams.

“In domestic abuse, the perpetrators are manipulative of the victim and the services that deal with the case.

“For him to be so blatant in letting those words leave his mouth, we couldn’t believe it – we nearly walked out. A bit of empathy wouldn’t have gone amiss.

“We handed him a folder and he leisurely flicked through it and said ‘I’ll look into it’ and the woman hasn’t heard from him since.”

Earlier this month Ms Williams posted a Facebook video criticising the meeting with Mr Davies, while not explicitly revealing details of the case.

Ms Williams, who was shot by her estranged husband in 2011 at a Newport hair salon, has also called for “all people in power” to have more training on how to deal with domestic abuse victims.

Tory MP Mr Davies has asked Women’s Aid, of which Ms Williams is an ambassador, that all future meetings with representatives must remain “absolutely confidential”, and that meetings be attended by representatives other than Ms Williams.

But a spokeswoman from the support charity said that Ms Williams had been acting independently of them.

Speaking to the Argus, Mr Davies said: “Ms Williams came along as an advocate and I am appalled that the private meeting discussing very serious allegations of illegality had been made public by a representative of Women’s’ Aid.

“The comments that she says I said are not correct and I’ve written several letters on the person’s behalf since.”

A case worker for the MP said that his office, who said they “do whatever they can” to help constituents in any situation, added: “David and myself have a strong awareness of domestic violence and he often speaks out about the issue in Parliament.

“We deal with many cases relating to domestic abuse, safeguarding and child protection and we will never discuss the details of any of these cases or meetings without the consent of the constituent.”