This is what he himself said in an interview: https://www.ft.com/content/7db837e6-b61a-11e8-bbc3-ccd7de085ffe
“I used to be cruel to my woman, I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved” was me. I used to be cruel to my woman, and physically. Any woman. I was a hitter. I couldn’t express myself and I hit. I fought men and I hit women. That is why I am always on about peace, you see. It is the most violent people who go for love and peace. Everything’s the opposite. But I sincerely believe in love and peace. I am a violent man who has learnt not to be violent and regrets his violence. I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster.