Five-year jail terms for abuse by strangling

Domestic abusers who use non-fatal strangulation on their partners in an attempt to control or induce fear will face up to five years in jail under a new offence that comes into force today.

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, closed a loophole that allows hundreds of domestic abusers to escape punishment. Police were only able to charge domestic abusers with assault causing actual bodily harm if there are lasting injuries, but strangulation often leaves little sign of injury.

Officers can take action under common assault laws, but campaigners say it is rarely prosecuted because of the few signs of injury or claims by the abuser that it was part of a sex game.