The case of the missing woman who was held in a cave by her estranged husband was not only shocking because of the brutal method allegedly employed but also because it lay bare yet another ugly and prolonged story of domestic violence.

The woman was, according to her relatives, abducted, forced to jump into the cold sea and then locked into a pitch black confined space and left there for three days without water and food. Her father told this newspaper that his daughter seemed to be close to death when he saw her in hospital, after the ordeal was over.

But he also recounted to this newspaper a long history of violence that could and should have been avoided.

The father claims that his daughter started suffering domestic abuse at the hands of her husband almost from the start of their troubled relationship. Back in 2011 the man was accused of, and admitted to having caused her grievous bodily harm. He was convicted of the crime but only received a suspended sentence, as in countless other domestic violence cases.

The couple got back together, because like in so many other domestic abuse cases the woman thought she loved her husband. And the abuse started again.

Over the years several reports were filed but there is no indication of any further action by the authorities.

The woman’s father told this newspaper that both the woman and her relatives were repeatedly threatened with death and bodily harm. Reports were filed but the threats kept coming.

Two months ago the woman went to the St Julian’s police station and reported that her husband had given her a savage beating. She then moved out of the marital home and moved in with her father. Yet despite the serious nature of the report, the husband kept tormenting his victim and eventually this horrific incident took place.

To make matters worse, when the father went to a police station to report that his daughter who had a long history of domestic abuse with her husband had not returned home and her phone was switched off was told to wait, that maybe the woman had simply missed the bus.

A great many police officers would have dealt with the situation differently but, despite all the boasts of how officers now receive training to deal with victims of domestic violence, some officers are still unable to deal with such situations in a professional and dignified manner.

This was not an isolated case. It happens all the time and people feel more aggrieved and helpless when the authorities do not show enough compassion and understanding in such delicate and traumatic circumstances.

Apart from this, the police need to start taking reports more seriously. This case clearly shows how the situation can degenerate. Fortunately the woman was found in the nick of time. Other women have not been so lucky.

More needs to be done to deal with a phenomenon that is anything but rare. More people are today having the courage to speak up and report cases of domestic violence, which is good, but this has also laid bare the enormity of the situation.

Just last year the police received 1,272 domestic violence reports. In all probability there were a great deal of other cases that went unreported.

When the data was published in February then Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela had stated that all offenders were taken to court. But an expert had warned that, despite the high rate of arraignments and convictions, many of the perpetrators were getting away lightly. This was disheartening not only to the victims but also to the police, who feel that they are wasting time and energy in prosecuting offenders.

Women and men who report that they are victims of domestic abuse need to be taken seriously. Reports cannot be taken lightly for, as this latest case has shown, a call for help that goes ignored can lead to very tragic consequences.