Years in Plain Sight examines a coercive control case prosecuted at Liverpool Crown Court in September 2024.

Over several years, a pattern of monitoring, isolation, financial restriction and intimidation developed before escalating into physical assault. This episode examines how coercive control forms gradually, how the law defines a “course of conduct,” and why violence is often not the beginning — but the continuation of a pattern.

This episode contains discussion of domestic abuse, coercive control and assault.

Case Source

Merseyside Police (20 September 2024)

Man jailed for assault and controlling and coercive behaviour

Liverpool Crown Court sentencing — 19 September 2024

Legal Context

Serious Crime Act 2015 — Section 76Controlling or Coercive Behaviour in an Intimate or Family Relationship

Data Source

Office for National Statistics (2024)Domestic abuse prevalence and trends, England and WalesCrime Survey for England and Wales — Year Ending March 2024

Support Resources

If you are in the United Kingdom:

Women’s Aid — https://womensaid.org.uk/

SafeLives — https://safelives.org.uk/

Victim Support — https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/

Rights of Women — https://www.rightsofwomen.org.uk/

Oasis Domestic Abuse Service — https://www.oasisdaservice.org/

16 Days of Action — https://16days.idas.org.uk/

Emergency: 999

Non-emergency police: 101

If you are outside the UK, contact local emergency services or search for domestic abuse support services in your country.

Credits

Host: Sara Santoro
Production: Dangerous Trust