CONTROLLING and coercive behaviour can take many forms, from repeated name calling and damaging property to threatening family pets and controlling access to money, and it leaves victims feeling intimidated, isolated and often terrified.

It’s important that people realise it is now a crime to act as Robert Conlon did – it is completely unacceptable to follow your partner to work and tell them what they can or can’t wear or dictate who they should spend time with.

The couple had been in a relationship, living at her address in Hastings, for more than a year until last October when Conlon was charged with the offences for which he was sentenced on May 19

I applaud the victim in this case for her bravery in speaking out and I hope that this successful conviction will give other victims the confidence to come forward and report the abuse they are suffering.

Credit must also go to the detectives in the East Sussex Safeguarding Investigations Unit for their diligent work in this case.

Sussex Police have a number of cases currently under investigation since the new legislation which made coercive and controlling behaviour a specific domestic abuse-related crime was introduced in December 2015.

Anyone who is experiencing this type of abuse should report it by calling 101 or visiting the website at sussex.police.uk or going in to your local police station. You can also access support services at safespacesussex.org.uk.

Katy Bourne is the police and crime commissioner for Sussex