A 25-year-old domestic abuser was convicted for visiting his ex-girlfriend’s home under a new law in a London first. Connor Cude was convicted for breaching a Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO) under a new scheme in Croydon, Bromley and Sutton.
He had been in a relationship with a woman for three months when police were called to a disturbance at her home on December 28, 2024. Cude was arrested and served a DAPO by Bromley Magistrates’ Court, banning him from contacting the victim or visiting her home.
On 7 January 2025, officers conducting a routine welfare visit at the victim’s home caught Cude trying to leave the address by the back garden. He was arrested for breaching the DAPO, and charged.
He appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the breach on Saturday, January 11 he will be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on February 24.
‘I hope this sends a strong message that offenders will be prosecuted’
Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London South, said: “No domestic abuse victim should ever have to live in fear of their abuser. Connor Cude flagrantly breached the order only a few days after it was imposed.
“I hope this first prosecution in London for this breach of a Domestic Abuse Protection Order sends a strong message that offenders will be prosecuted.
“We continue to work with our criminal justice partners to ensure that more of these orders are sought, and that anyone who breaches them is swiftly brought to justice.”
DAPOs are part of a new scheme that started on 27 November 2024 and are currently being piloted in two CPS areas – including the London Boroughs of Croydon, Bromley, and Sutton. A DAPO is an order made for the purpose of protecting a victim against domestic abuse or the risk of domestic abuse as defined in Section 1 of the DA Act 2021.
It prohibits the perpetrator from carrying out actions specified in the order and requires them to comply with actions specified in the order. Breach of any DAPO requirement without reasonable excuse will be a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty of up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. They have no limit on duration so can provide protection for as long as necessary.
‘There is nowhere to hide’
Kate Brown, Chief Crown Prosecutor and CPS national domestic abuse lead, said: “It is vital that we work together to break the cycle of abuse and safeguard victims.
“This conviction shows offenders there is nowhere to hide from the consequences of their abuse.
“We want everyone to feel safe and confident reporting any instances of abuse knowing that the criminal justice system is taking swift action to protect them from further harm.”
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women & Girls Jess Phillips said: “To see these new orders in use and protecting people is really important – in the short time since they were launched, they have already provided greater safety for victims and more robust management for perpetrators of domestic abuse.
“We welcome the work that has been delivered so far by all of the forces involved, particularly in pursuing breaches of these orders which is incredibly important to build victim confidence.
“We will continue working with the police, CPS and other partners to put victims at the heart of our work. We will make sure they receive the best protections possible, part of our ambitious mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”
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