A man who repeatedly assaulted his former partner has had a suspended prison sentence overturned after the newly appointed Attorney General intervened.
Aiden Ford, 40, of Hanham, Bristol, will now serve four years and three months in prison.
Ford’s suspended sentence of three years was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme by new Attorney General, Ellie Reeves KC MP.
Reeves, who was sworn in as Attorney General on the 1st October, said: “Aiden Ford subjected his victim to a sustained and terrifying campaign of violence and coercive control, leaving her genuinely fearing for her life.
“There is no excuse, and no place for domestic abuse in our society. Tackling violence against women and girls is my number one priority, and I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn Ford’s suspended sentence and increase his sentence following my referral.”
The court heard that Ford and the victim began a relationship in September 2024. Between February and August 2025, Ford subjected her to a campaign of repeated violent assaults and coercive and controlling behaviour, including trapping her in her home, and suffocation.
After the victim reported the abuse, the offender persistently pressured and ultimately persuaded the victim to withdraw her statements to the police.
On 11th June 2026, at Cardiff Crown Court, Aiden Ford was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment suspended for three years for one count of controlling and coercive behaviour, one count of suffocation, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of perverting the course of justice.
On 20th October 2026, at the Court of Appeal, his sentence was increased to four years and three months’ imprisonment.
