HUNDREDS of domestic abusers are among rising numbers of Dorset offenders to face the courts for committing acts of violence against women and girls this year.

Figures released by CPS Wessex show that those who commit such crimes - known by the abbreviation VAWG - were more likely to be prosecuted in 2015/16 than the previous year.

A total of 1,104 people were convicted of VAWG offences this year - more than the 845 the previous year.

Of those, 873 were convicted of domestic violence - 114 more than in 2014/15.

The number of rapists prosecuted in the county doubled this year.

In total, 20 were convicted of rape.

Just 10 were convicted in 2014/15.

However, almost 50 per cent of those accused of rape were not convicted in 2015/16.

The previous year, 61.5 per cent of those accused of the offence were not convicted.

A further 111 people were convicted of sexual offences excluding rape this year - 35 more than in 2014/15.

Kate Brown, chief crown prosecutor of CPS Wessex, said: "These crimes come with many complexities, not only from an evidential position, but from victims, many of whom suffer considerable physical and emotional long-lasting pain as a result of the abuse they have suffered.

"This makes reporting and subsequently supporting a prosecution all the more difficult."

Ms Brown said she has met with some victims of domestic and sexual abuse to hear about their experiences of the court process.

“During the year, we have continued through the local criminal justice boards to operate a multi-agency approach to progressing domestic abuse cases through the courts, aspiring to conclude contested cases with 28 days of the first hearing," she added.

"We are achieving this across much of Wessex and continue to work to achieve this fully."