Amber Heard has allegedly gone through “years of physical and psychological abuse” at the hands of her estranged husband Johnny Depp.

The Hollywood stars announced plans to divorce last week (ends27may16), with things turning increasingly nasty after news broke Heard had filed for protection against the actor.

The 30-year-old actress has claimed Depp, 52, physically assaulted her, with a bruise clearly visible on her face when she attended court. The mark was allegedly from a phone thrown at her by Depp.

Depp’s family, friends and legal team have hit back at the allegations, with claims that Heard has yet to report the domestic abuse to police strengthening their argument.

Her lawyers, lead attorney Samantha F. Spector and co-counsel Joseph P. Koenig, have now released a statement.

“As the result of Amber’s decision to decline giving an initial statement to the LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department), her silence has been used against her by Johnny’s team,” it reads. “Amber did not provide a statement to the LAPD in an attempt to protect her privacy and Johnny’s career. Johnny’s team has forced Amber to give a statement to the LAPD to set the record straight as to the true facts, as she cannot continue to leave herself open to the vicious false and malicious allegations that have infected the media. Amber has suffered through years of physical and psychological abuse at the hands of Johnny.”

Depp’s 17-year-old daughter Lily-Rose, his ex Vanessa Paradis, comedian Doug Stanhope and actor Mickey Rourke have all voiced their doubts, though Heard's legal team aren’t surprised by this. The lawyers say it’s not unusual for “the perpetrator’s playbook to include miscasting the victim as the villain”.

They add that in reality Heard acted no differently to many other domestic abuse victims, by thinking of the harm that could come to the abuser rather than the abuse itself.

“Amber can no longer endure the relentless attacks and outright lies launched against her character in the Court of Public Opinion since the tragic events of May 21st,” they continued. “With her statement Amber hopes to give the LAPD the opportunity to conduct an accurate and complete investigation into the events of that evening and before. If that occurs, and the truth is revealed, there is no doubt that Amber’s claims will be substantiated beyond any doubt, and hopefully Johnny will get the help that he so desperately needs.”

The lengthy statement goes on to say that Heard had wanted to keep the matter as private as possible, but Johnny’s legal team had taken the matter to the press and “viciously” attacked Heard 's character.

It concludes: “Amber is the victim. Amber is a hero.”