The women killed at the hands of men in Greater Manchester over two years

A mum who was murdered by her former cage fighter ex-partner, a 'bubbly' nana whose body parts were found dismembered in a country park and a 26-year-old trainee nurse strangled to death by her boyfriend's brother.

These were just three of the 11 women killed at the hands of men in Greater Manchester over two years.

Eight women were killed by men in 2019, four were killed in 2020.

READ MORE: GMP admit multiple failings after woman who claims she was attacked by ex-partner said police officer 'judged her'

They were all mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.

Across the entire country, 238 women were killed by men over the two years, shocking figures released by the the femicide census showed.

In 2020, 52 per cent of victims were killed by current or former partners.

In 43 per cent of the cases, there was a 'known history of violence and abuse by the perpetrator of the victim', the report said.

In light of these tragic statistics, campaigners are calling for a 'better prevention of violence' in the first place.

They want the 'state to be accountable' for this prevention, with preparators who 'use the same patterns, in the same relationships and patterns, with the same excuses' brought to justice.

Below, we look back to 2019 and 2020 and remember each of the 11 women killed in our region by men - many of whom were killed by partners or ex-partners.

We also look at what Greater Manchester Police are doing now to try and prevent more tragic killings.

Melissa Belshaw was murdered by her former cage fighter ex-partner Andrew Wadsworth in May 2020.

Wadsworth, described in court as 'violent' and 'dangerous', stabbed Melissa, 32, to death at her home in Wigan after bingeing on cocaine and alcohol.

Her 13-year-old daughter