CLARIFICATION 08/01/2013 On the 24th November 2005 we published an article about Paul Bristow based on statements made by his former wife, Wendy. Mr Bristow pleaded guilty to assaults on his ex-wife taking place in 2004 but was acquitted of rape alleged to have taken place in 2001. He further denies and was not charged with assaulting her on any prior occasion’.

A lecturer was allowed to return to his job at a Birmingham college while awaiting trial on charges of sexual and physical abuse.

Paul Bristow was arrested in July 2004 and charged with rape, indecent assault, threatening to kill, two counts of actual bodily harm and common assault against his ex-wife Wendy.

Following his arrest, he was suspended from his post as a learning facilitator at Bournville College.

However Bristow (39), who last week was cleared of rape and indecent assault but jailed after admitting the other charges against him, was allowed back to teach this year while he awaited trial.

A victims' support group said employees' contracts should include clauses about domestic violence, while Ms Bristow accused the college of acting inappropriately.

"That was the wrong move by the college," said Ms Bristow.

"They were aware of what he had done. How could you have a man on a rape charge, a threat-to-kill charge and ABH working with children who are 16 and 17? What would have happened to the college if he had threatened to kill a student or even punched a student when people found out this man was facing these charges?"

Confirmation that her exhusband was back working at the college came in May this year following inquiries through her solicitor.

Last night Bournville College, based on Bristol Road South, refused to comment on an individual member of staff.

However college principal Norman Cave said: "Any behaviour that falls within our disciplinary procedures, and that would include any criminal behaviour, would be regarded as a criminal matter and that individual would be suspended pending an investigation.

"This would consider all aspects of their behaviour and a decision whether they could return to work would be made following an investigation and assessment of risk."

In The Birmingham Post today, Ms Bristow, aged 37, who has waived her right to anonymity, recounts the shocking extent of the years of abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband.

Speaking on International Anti-violence Against Women Day, she said she wanted to tell her story to urge other victims of domestic abuse to seek help.

Ms Bristow says her exhusband became increasingly aggressive after the birth of their first child. At one point, she said, he punched and kicked her in front of their four children as she was breastfeeding their youngest.

On another occasion he grabbed her fingers and bent them forcibly backwards, for which she had to seek medical attention.

He was finally arrested on June 11 when she called the police after he stabbed her in the cheek with a pen.

Birmingham's Women's Aid, which supports victims of abuse, urged organisations to take a more rigid stance on domestic violence.

A spokeswoman said: " Unfortunately a lot of organisations don't have an internal domestic violence policy where they support victims of and possibly take disciplinary action against people who commit it. We want organisations seriously to consider drawing up their own domestic violence policy."