North East Chief Crown Prosecutor encourages domestic violence victims to report offences during pandemic measures

The Chief Crown Prosecutor (CCP) for the North East Crown Prosecution Service has today encouraged those facing domestic abuse during the national COVID-19 response to report any offences committed against them.

CCP Jan Lamping highlighted some recent successes in the prosecution of domestic abuse and reached out to domestic abuse victims who may be at greater risk due to COVID-19 measures.

Jan said: “For many victims, the current lockdown measures may be further aggravating existing abusive relationships, with offenders and victims being in closer proximity for long periods of time.

“I want to reassure victims that, despite the measures currently in place to contain COVID-19, we remain committed to the robust prosecution of offences involving domestic abuse.

“There are a number of organisations who continue to provide support to domestic abuse victims throughout the national response to the current pandemic and I would also encourage anyone who has been subject to domestic abuse to report such crimes to the police."

Some of the domestic abuse cases prosecuted in recent months include the following:

• A Defendant was convicted of breaches of an indefinite restraining order following his repeated attendances at the victim’s address. He was sentenced to 51 weeks' imprisonment.
• A Defendant was convicted of stalking involving serious alarm or distress after he repeatedly sent unwanted communications and unwanted gifts to the victim over a number of months. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for 12 months, with rehabilitation activities, and an indefinite restraining order was made.
• A Defendant was convicted of a series of violent assaults over a six-month period involving the infliction of serious harm. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment and an indefinite restraining order.
• A Defendant was convicted of threats to kill and assault causing actual bodily harm for an attack on the victim in November 2019. He was sentenced to four years six months' imprisonment and made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.
• A Defendant was convicted of stalking involving serious alarm or distress when he sent repeated unwanted communications to the victim and approached her in public against her wishes. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months with rehabilitation activities and made subject to a five-year restraining order.
• A Defendant was convicted of assault by beating for pushing, slapping grabbing and finally punching the victim in her home. He was sentenced to 20 weeks' imprisonment and made the subject of a two-year restraining order and compensation.
• A Defendant was convicted of battery after he head-butted and kicked his pregnant girlfriend. He was sentenced to a 12-month Community Order with rehabilitation activities and a restraining order until further notice. Compensation was awarded to the victim.