Macauley Nesfield, 28, from Eastfield, had his jail term increased by the Court of Appeal on 26 February, and Bilal Rasheed has his sentence increased on 16 January. 

Both decisions from the Court of Appeal followed references by the Solicitor General after the original sentences for controlling and coercive behaviour were considered unduly lenient.

The Court heard that Nesfield carried out a sustained campaign of abuse against a woman which included smacking, punching, throwing objects, grabbing by the throat, dragging by the hair and brandishing a knife.

Nesfield was sentenced in December 2024 for one count of Controlling or coercive behaviour, one count of Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of Unlawful wounding.

He also received a five-year restraining order. On 26 February 2025, following a referral of his original sentence to the Court of Appeal by Lucy Rigby KC MP, Nesfield had his sentence increased to three years’ imprisonment.

Bilal Rasheed repeatedly abused a woman and was controlling or coercive towards her.

He was sentenced in August 2024 for one count of controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate family relationship, one count of sending a malicious communication, and one count of criminal damage.

The Court of Appeal quashed his original jail term for coercive and controlling behaviour and increased it to three years.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

I welcome the Court’s decision to increase these sentences.

This Government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and we will continue to use all tools at our disposal to protect victims and put perpetrators behind bars.