Suspended sentence secured for threats to kill and controlling and coercive behaviour spanning 3 years against an ex-partner

Stephanie Panchkowry (instructed by Munawar Qurban of MI Law Solicitors) secured a suspended sentence for a man charged with threatening to kill his ex-partner and controlling and coercive behaviour over a 3 year period.

The threats to kill were captured on a 9 minute video that the defendant had recorded using his mobile phone. The judge described the level of aggression as frightening, with the complainant being fearful and cowed. He belittled, degraded and humiliated her, threatening to kill her with a gun. Various other assaults and episodes of controlling and coercive behaviour were specified over the 3 years.

The offending was placed into the highest category of the sentencing guidelines for controlling and coercive behaviour, having a range of up to 4 years’ custody. The prosecution argued for the highest category for the threats to kill, with a range of up to 7 years’ custody. Stephanie persuasively argued for the offences to be dealt with concurrently and for the sentence length to be lowered into the suspended territory. The defendant was released from custody today, having spent his time since arrest remanded in custody.