A judge has appealed to wives and girlfriends to stand up against domestic violence as it emerged one in three cases is failing to end in a conviction.

Judge Julian Hall took the unusual step of speaking directly to us because he is worried too many victims are backing out of court cases.

His comments were sparked as three cases in one day were discontinued at Oxford Crown Court because complainants withdrew their co-operation.

The judge stressed abuse in the home was one of the “primary scenarios for death”.

He said in court: “There are three cases in which women have thrown in the towel.

“The difficulty of this sort of case is illustrated when you have a 999 call, the police arrive, there’s a woman with blood streaming down her face and the only other person present is her man, and yet no charges can be made to stick.

“It’s a most difficult situation. It causes me great unhappiness to see men who are clearly violent not being brought to book.”

The Crown Prosecution Service show 17 of its 47 domestic violence cases in 2010 failed to end in convictions.

Judge Hall added: “I am just emphasising what an immensely difficult area this is. One never knows what goes on behind the marital door, but sometimes people end up dead.”

Judge Hall told us he had watched the problem “bubble away” for many years and wanted victims of domestic violence to be aware of the support available to them, including being able to give evidence via video-link to avoid having to face their attackers in court.

Judge Hall also praised the Witness Service for helping victims through the court process and acknowledged the pressures exerted on victims by their partners not to report such cases.

He said: “It just seems to me a wretched situation. Part of the reason for highlighting it is to somehow get across to women it is actually worth reporting these things.

“Domestic violence forms one of the primary scenarios for death. It’s dreadful and I don’t think women should put up with it.”

Rhoda Nikolay, of the CPS in Oxfordshire, said: “The CPS is firmly committed to improving outcomes for victims of domestic violence.

“These cases can be difficult to prosecute because victims know and often live with or have lived with their abuser so it is understandably difficult for them to stand up against them in court.”

She said cases can still be prosecuted when a victim withdraws their support, but only if their safety was not compromised.

Childcare or travel arrangements can also be made for victims and witnesses to enable them to attend court hearings, and they can be shown around courts in advance to make the experience less intimidating.

VICTIMS OF BULLIES, COWARDS AND KILLERS

Benjamin Thompson plunged a knife into his ex-girlfriend’s chest in a fit of jealousy and was jailed for six years. The 26-year-old attacked 22-year-old Harriet de Raeve at their house in Hurst Street, East Oxford, last April. A trial at Oxford Crown Court in October cleared him of attempted murder but convicted him of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. In September 2008, Mohammed Rashid killed his wife Saughra Rani with a kitchen knife and a chapatti pan in front of his children after discovering she was having an affair. Rashid, of Mold Crescent, Banbury, was jailed for 15 years and 10 months. Debbie Smith was 47 when she was stabbed to death in her home in Bell Lane, Wheatley, in May 2008. Her husband Russell Yeates, 49, who was on trial for her murder, was found dead in his Bullingdon Prison cell in January 2009. It is thought he slit his wrists.