Man sentenced to more than four years in prison for controlling and coercive behaviour.

A 20 year-old man has been jailed for four years and four months after being found guilty of offences including controlling and coercive behaviour.

A 20 year-old man has been jailed for four years and four months after being found guilty of offences including controlling and coercive behaviour.

Bradley Ramsden of no fixed address in Portsmouth was found guilty by a jury on Friday 16 August at Portsmouth Crown Court following a five day trial. He was sentenced for controlling and coercive behaviour, unlawful wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault at the same court on Thursday 7 November.

His behaviour was so abusive that his 19 year-old victim and her family had to make significant changes as a result.

The court heard that he had assaulted the victim at Milton Common on Thursday 15 February after she had resumed a relationship with him the previous month. Later the same day he assaulted her again at an address in Buckland and tried to assault her mother who was also present. Subsequent enquiries established that he had held a knife against the victims throat on Saturday 27 January. His coercive and controlling behaviour included: making threats of violence, denying her access to friends, making her delete her social media profiles, and making her send images of herself to prove where she was.

Ramsden is also now subject to a 15 year restraining order against his victim and her mother.

Officer in the case, Police Staff Investigator Kennedy Kirk said: “Ramsden’s behaviour had a significant impact on the victim and her family. They had known each other for a number of years and his coercive and controlling behaviour had started in 2021. It was only when the assault was reported to us earlier this year that we could build a picture of the circumstances that had led to this and understand the extent of his coercive and controlling behaviour. While we were not able to locate all of the potential witnesses from Milton Common on 15 February, the strength of the case we presented to the court through the accounts of the victim and her family have helped to ensure that Ramsden has been given a significant custodial sentence.

“I do hope that this court result allows the victim and her family to move on with their lives as Ramsden cannot cause them any more misery now that he has been sentenced.

“Controlling coercive behaviour is an isolating and distressing crime and can have a devastating effect on those who experience it.

“We take every report of this nature extremely seriously. We hope this sentence gives people the confidence to come forward knowing that you will be supported”.

We would urge anyone who is the victim of harassment, stalking or controlling behaviour to report it to us, don’t suffer in silence.

We recognise that not everyone will have the confidence to do so immediately. We are here for you and will listen, but if you don’t want to speak to a police officer, there are independent support services out there that can give you the help you need.”

For more information about how you can seek independent support, and the ways in which you can report domestic abuse, visit: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/daa/domestic-abuse/

You can also report abuse to police by calling 101. In the event of an emergency or if someone is in danger, dial 999.