Anyone successfully convicted for domestic violence

[cruciallyfree]

My new partner attacked me violently and I've reported to the police. I'm in a situation where I need to decide if I should take this to prosecution. The police are coming round today.

Has anyone successfully taken a partner to court for this and what happened?

Part of me wants to stop him doing this to others, but I'm scared of any repercussions should I take him to court.

I'm ok, if very shaken, and I'm safe.

If anything repercussions will be fewer if he's prosecuted. It will help to protect others, so if you are strong enough then its definitely worth it.
This is how they get away with it repeatedly.

It's a very hard decision. I have no faith whatsoever in the Police, especially in respect of Domestic Abuse as they are misogynistic on the whole. The rates of conviction are appalling and even worse if the abuser IS a Police Officer. Please make sure you get some counselling and good legal advice as it will be harrowing. It sounds like you have physical evidence so I suppose it would be a bit easier. I'm in the same boat as you but coercive, emotional, economic abuse. On strong days I feel like I can but on low days, I don't think I have the fight in me. I wish you luck and hope whatever you decide you get some closure.

I can't really afford a lawyer and doubt I'd get legal aid.

I want him to know that what he did is unacceptable. I would never in a million years have thought he'd do this but he completely changed and was evil.

I could represent myself. I feel strong right now but he knows where I live and I have children to consider (not his)

I guess I need to know if it's worth taking further - realistically will he be convicted.

The police are coming today so I will see what they say.

In my experience it was the CPS who were the issue.

After 2 years of violence and police call outs, hospital trips, the police managed to convince me to press charges and follow through with them after a particularly nasty attack which left me with a fractured cheekbone. The police were by and large very helpful to me and supportive (not all, one told me it was my fault, female police officer too!). But their DV team helped a lot, they told me they wanted to see this man convicted as much as I did, they had dealt with him being violent in a previous relationship.

I pressed charges, gave statements and interviews. But then CPS chose not to proceed due to lack of evidence. When the police officer called me to tell me, he was as upset and angry as I was. And very apologetic for putting me through it.

Despite submitting all the evidence including pictures of my black, blue, swollen, bloody face. The 'lack of evidence' was that they couldn't rely on my statement as I had been drinking on the night in question. The only other witness, a neighbour who called the police after witnessing him through me out the house and kick my head against a kerb, refused to do a statement or co-operate out of fear.

My word and the evidence of the attack was not enough, charges were dropped and nothing happened. Luckily though I got away from him and moved on.

That was 10 years ago, so I am hoping the system is better now

@JCWildWest oh my god my situation isn't half as bad as yours. I'm sorry that happened to you.

That doesn't give me much hope for my situation.

@JCWildWest can I ask if he knew you were planning on taking him to court?
Did he get arrested? Or charged?

@cruciallyfree Sorry I didn't mean to be so negative I just wanted to point out that there is more to it than the police and that simply pressing charges does not necessary mean it will get to court.

Unfortunately, DV cases are usually in the home or private and therefore it is a case of one persons word against the other and so it doesn't always meet evidence criteria for the CPS.

That's why I would hope things have improved since then.

It is good you are feeling strong about this, whatever the outcome, you being strong for you and your children is the best thing you can do.

Big hugs to you

He was arrested, charged and bailed, and breached bail trying to contact me and also harassing the witness. To this day, I don't really understand how he got away with it not going any further. I just remember the police telling me there was nothing more they could do.

@JCWildWest
Thank you. If it doesn't go further then an arrest may make him realise that it is not acceptable. I don't have physical visible marks or bruises and no witnesses.
Even saying that sounds so bloody feeble. How can they let him do this to someone else?

I cannot believe they didn't take your case further. I'm so sorry but glad you are safe now.

Please don't let my situation put you off. Report it fully to the police. Your question on this board seemed to want some insight and I wanted to make you aware about the CPS as I don't think its necessarily thought about.

I think you just have to brace yourself for being difficult and for potentially yourself being put under scrutiny.

But I think regardless of my experience it is 100% important for it to be reported. Any DV, whether it being emotional, coercive or physical is illegal and wrong and absolutely needs to be reported.

Even though I had a bad experience I don't regret pursuing charges, I know that I tried. And heaven forbid if I found myself in that position again I would pursue to press charges again.

You got this x

@JCWildWest I will take this as far as I can.

Thank you for your insights, it helps me understand what I'm facing.

I don't want him to do this to someone else.

Update - they arrested him and took him in for interview. He's denied it but he has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

I suspect the CPS won't go forward with the prosecution but fingers crossed 🤞
Apparently he got the shock of his life when they went to arrest him!

My ex was found guilty in court after he attacked me, he was given a no contact order not to contact or communicate with me or any child of the family unless authorised by social services, family courts and a soliciter. He was fined, given community work and had to do some sort of program thing where he saw a probation officer weekly.

The court order was only for a year but the police kindly informed me I could apply to have it extended which I did several times. Had a very peaceful past 5 years

He thought he could violently attack someone and there would be no consequences? I wonder how many times he's beaten up a woman before, and skipped away from it.

My take on this is a bit different. I see the "successes " - the violent men who have FINALLY been sent to prison because their partners made statements and stood up in court , and importantly, were believed. I do a lot of public protection work, and it is heartbreaking how many people still find it hard to keep away from someone even when there's a restraining order in place, and the man is in prison. I have my fingers firmly crossed for you, that the CPS do prosecute.

Yes, he was convicted of assault (ABH). Police took him to court, I was summoned as a witness so I couldn't change my mind if I'd wanted to. I went straight to the police after the attack (if that makes a difference), before hospital (they called an ambulance).

I had a two year no contact order, it's now been 10 years without contact.

@PonyPatter44 yes exactly I do wonder how many times he's done it before. It saddens me that if he gets away with it that his next partner will be the one facing his violence.

@PonyPatter44
How likely would it be without hard evidence- the case is really just my word against his and I don't think it will meet the CPS evidence guidelines

They arrested him under section 47 - Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily harm

Hi @cruciallyfree can I ask what was the outcome? Experiencing something similar right now and wanting to understand chances of conviction

It was a conviction of ABH and had a 12 month community order £200 to me, £85 costs, have to attend better relationships course (80 hrs I think) and another course (5 days)

I did it so he would see his behaviour is unacceptable and a conviction is on his record

And the letter said a restraining order but when I asked about this they said there wasn't one

Congratulations @cruciallyfree , that’s a great result. I hope you feel better for it.

Re the restraining order, ask the victim support team as if on the letter bout the court result it should be in place, but remember you can apply for non molestation order if he bothers you again (do report anything new to the police).

@Cockerpooslave thanks but it was a while ago now and not heard a peep, thank goodness. I only hope he has learnt from it.

I did have some issues with his family contacting me to try and dissuade me from going forward with it but I just reported everything to the police

One thing that I think really helped my case was a really thought out victim impact statement. Don't hold back. I asked to submit it after some thought and they were fine with that