The Court of Appeal has extended the prison sentence of Jordan Crewe, a 27-year-old man from Caerphilly, following his systematic campaign of domestic abuse against his former partner.
Crewe was initially sentenced to two years in prison in February 2025, but following a referral under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP, his term has now been increased to two years and ten months.
Background of the Case: A Pattern of Escalation
Crewe’s abuse spanned over several years, beginning before his 2022 conviction for harassment and malicious communications, for which he received a 16-month prison sentence and a 12-year restraining order.
Upon release in October 2022, Crewe breached bail conditions immediately, entering his ex-partner’s home, assaulting her, and destroying property. He continued to harass her through messages—even from prison—urging her to drop charges.
Released again in May 2023 under strict conditions, Crewe resumed his abusive behaviour, including:
- Sending unsolicited texts and activating a phone tracking app
- Controlling her clothing and social contacts
- Physically assaulting her, including biting her face
- Sending suicidal videos as a form of emotional coercion
The abuse reached a climax on New Year’s Eve 2024, when he assaulted her inside a car and issued violent threats to her and her family.
Court of Appeal Ruling
In February 2025, Cardiff Crown Court convicted Crewe of harassment, strangulation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and coercive control—yet the two-year sentence was deemed inadequate.
The Attorney General’s Office presented new arguments at appeal, highlighting Crewe’s pattern of persistent abuse, the use of technology for surveillance, and the lasting psychological harm caused to the victim.
Though his defence cited ADHD and a traumatic upbringing in foster care, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith concluded that Crewe had been given “every opportunity” to reform and had shown “persistent disregard” for legal boundaries.
Solicitor General: “Systematic and Appalling”
Welcoming the ruling, Lucy Rigby KC MP said:
“Jordan Crewe’s tirade of abuse was appalling. He carried out a systematic campaign of violence and coercive control, and I am pleased the Court of Appeal recognised the seriousness of his offending.”
Wider Context: UK’s Crackdown on Domestic Abuse
Crewe’s case underscores the UK’s strengthening response to domestic violence. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 now includes coercive control, and CPS data shows a 6.7% increase in prosecutions between 2022 and 2023.
Advocacy groups like Women’s Aid and Refuge say the case highlights the importance of legal tools like the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme in securing justice for survivors.
