Man convicted of breaching first Domestic Abuse Protection Order in London

A 25-year-old-man has been convicted for breaching a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) under a recent pilot in Croydon, Bromley and Sutton.

Connor Cude, 25, had been in a relationship with a woman for three months, when on 28 December 2024, police responded to emergency calls about a disturbance at her home. 

Following Cude’s arrest, a DAPO was issued by Bromley Magistrates’ Court banning him from contacting the victim or attending her home address.

On 7 January 2025, officers conducting a routine welfare visit at the victim’s home address caught Cude trying to leave the address by the back garden. 

He was arrested for breaching the DAPO and charges against him were authorised by CPS Direct – the Crown Prosecution Service’s out-of-hours charging service. Appearing at Croydon Magistrates’ court on Saturday 11 January, the defendant pleaded guilty to the breach. 

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London South, said: “No domestic abuse victim should ever have to live in fear of their abuser. Connor Cude flagrantly breached the order only a few days after it was imposed.

“I hope this first prosecution in London for this breach of a Domestic Abuse Protection Order sends a strong message that offenders will be prosecuted.

“We continue to work with our criminal justice partners to ensure that more of these orders are sought, and that anyone who breaches them is swiftly brought to justice.”

Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) commenced on 27 November 2024 and are currently being piloted in two CPS areas – including the London Boroughs of Croydon, Bromley, and Sutton - and are just one of the ways we are working with the police at the earliest opportunity to secure justice and safeguard victims.

Kate Brown, Chief Crown Prosecutor and CPS national domestic abuse lead, said: “It is vital that we work together to break the cycle of abuse and safeguard victims.

“This conviction shows offenders there is nowhere to hide from the consequences of their abuse. 

“We want everyone to feel safe and confident reporting any instances of abuse knowing that the criminal justice system is taking swift action to protect them from further harm.”

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women & Girls Jess Phillips said: "To see these new orders in use and protecting people is really important – in the short time since they were launched, they have already provided greater safety for victims and more robust management for perpetrators of domestic abuse.

"We welcome the work that has been delivered so far by all of the forces involved, particularly in pursuing breaches of these orders which is incredibly important to build victim confidence.

"We will continue working with the police, CPS and other partners to put victims at the heart of our work. We will make sure they receive the best protections possible, part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade."