THE North West has the highest number of successful domestic abuse prosecutions in the country.

Figures released by the Crown Prosecution Service show that more attackers were prosecuted and convicted in the region than in any other in England and Wales last year.

Eighty per cent of defendants who were prosecuted in the North West in 2013-14 for domestic violence were convicted, a total of 8,507 offenders.

This is the third successive year on year increase in the conviction rate for domestic violence and that figure is higher than any other comparable metropolitan region in the country.

The national conviction rate for the same period was 74.6 per cent.

In total, CPS North West brought prosecutions for domestic violence against 10,600 defendants, an increase of almost 200 prosecutions on the previous year.

Charities campaigning against domestic violence have been encouraging even more victims to come forward in light of the murder of Cherylee Shennan in Rawtenstall in March.

Police grew concerned about her after they received reports that her partner Paul O’Hara had assaulted her, causing a broken jaw.

When officers went round to their address, he attacked Cherylee with a hammer before chasing her down the street and stabbing her to death.

It emerged in court, when O’Hara was sentenced to a whole life term behind bars, that he had already served 14 years in prison for the murder of another ex-girlfriend and was on life licence when he killed Cherylee.

Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the North West Area, said: “The figures for the region in the report are good news.

“We have seen a steady and significant increase in the number of prosecutions and convictions for domestic violence in recent years, and last year, eight out of 10 cases in the region resulted in the attacker being convicted.

“I hope this gives domestic violence victims confidence in coming forward and reporting incidents to the police.

“The message is also clear to perpetrators — domestic violence is totally unacceptable and you can expect to pay the price.”