In May 2026, a piece of news from the BBC made many Chinese in the UK take a breath: a 23-year-old Chinese international student at Durham University was sentenced to 5 years in prison for trying to kidnap his ex-girlfriend with a fake gun.
This was not a sudden violence - the victim (who was also from China) experienced tracking, smoke bomb attacks, and fictitious family threats in the months after the breakup, and was eventually forced to leave at gunpoint in the dormitory corridor. She was not rescued until she desperately escaped and knocked on her neighbor's door.
British law defines this type of behavior as "Coercive Control". After the legislation was enacted in 2015, the number of prosecutions increased year by year - reaching nearly 5,000 in 2024. However, many Chinese victims did not know that they were experiencing a criminal offense punishable by 5 years in prison until the incident.
If you or a friend around you is experiencing a similar "invisible cage", this article will tell you: how British law protects you, and four feasible paths for help.
1. Typical characteristics of the Duren case: five signs of controlled violence
This case has attracted widespread attention because it condenses almost all the classic methods of controlled violence (Coercive Control):
1. Struggle after breakup
They started dating in May 2024, and in November the victim broke up with her due to her "possessive and controlling behavior". However, the man continued to send messages, make phone calls, come to the door without permission, and physically assaulted her twice.
2. Create false threats and strengthen dependence
The man lied, "You know my family's secrets, and they are going to kill you." He secretly installed a tracker in the victim's room and created a smoke bomb attack, making the victim mistakenly believe that someone was really trying to kill her. In the end, out of fear, she allowed the man to sleep on the floor of her room to "protect" her.
3. Escalation to threat of force
On February 9, 2026, the man, armed with a knife and a blackened imitation pistol, forced the victim into a corner in the dormitory corridor, put the gun to her chest, loaded the magazine, and tried to take her away by force. The victim escaped the moment the other party dropped the gun and frantically knocked on the door for help.
The victim said in her statement: "I really thought I was going to die. That fear has been ingrained in me since that day."
Section 76 of the British Serious Crime Act 2015 stipulates that any person who continues or repeatedly carries out controlling/coercive behavior in an intimate or family relationship and has a serious effect on the victim shall constitute a criminal offense and may be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison. In the Duren case, the judge finally sentenced him to 5 years and attached a 5-year restraining order. He will most likely be deported to China after he is released from prison.
2. Why do many Chinese victims not know that they can call the police?
The most insidious thing about controlled violence is that it often has no obvious physical scars - monitoring mobile phones, restricting social interactions, verbal humiliation, financial control, isolating your contact with family and friends... These behaviors may seem "just a quarrel" individually, but cumulatively, they become a "serious effect" in the legal sense.
Research shows that victims in Chinese cultural backgrounds are more inclined to "preserve family privacy" and are unwilling to let "outsiders" (Wairen) intervene. Many Chinese international students or spouse visa holders are worried that calling the police will affect their visas, are afraid of losing face, or simply don’t know that this is a crime in the UK.
But the fact is:
- If you hold a spouse visa (Spouse Visa) and experience domestic violence, you can apply for permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain) immediately without waiting for 5 years.
- Domestic violence support services, temporary accommodation and one-time financial assistance are available even if you have "No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF)"
- Calling the police will not automatically trigger visa review, but is a legitimate way to protect your legitimate rights and interests.
3. Four legal self-rescue paths when encountering controlled violence
Path 1: Emergency alarm 999
If you are in immediate danger, dial 999; if you are unable to speak, stay on the phone and press 55, and the police will automatically dispatch the police.
When police arrive, they will assess the risk, record evidence, and may arrest the perpetrator on the spot. The criminal court can issue a Restraining Order (restraining order) after conviction, prohibiting the other party from contacting you or approaching your home/workplace.
Path 2: Apply for Non-Molestion Order
This is a protection order issued by the Civil Court (Family Court), which can be applied for without a criminal conviction, and is specifically used for harassment/violence between partners, ex-partners or family members.
Application process:
- Fill out form FL401, attach a detailed written statement (witness statement) and evidence, and submit it online or in person to the Family Court
- No fee is required for first-time application
- If you are worried about the other party's violent retaliation, you can apply for an emergency hearing "Without Notice" (without notifying the other party), and the judge can issue a temporary protection order on the same day.
- Once the other party violates the protection order, it constitutes a criminal offense and can be arrested and sentenced to up to 5 years in prison.
You don't need a lawyer to apply, but if you are a victim of domestic violence, you may be eligible for free legal aid through Legal Aid.
Path 3: Contact professional Chinese/Asian domestic violence support organizations
There are several domestic violence agencies in the UK that specialize in serving ethnic minorities and provide Chinese/multilingual support:
- Ashiana Project – specializes in helping South Asian, Turkish, and Iranian women aged 16-30. It operates three shelters, two of which are specially set up for women fleeing forced marriages.
- Panahghar – multilingual support line 0800 111 4998, emergency shelter in Coventry and Leicester
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 24-hour hotline 0808 2000 247 (English)
- Victim Support – 24-hour online chat and phone support for all victims of crime
These organizations can help you:
- Safety planning (how to leave an abuser safely)
- Emergency accommodation arrangements
- Accompany the police or appear in court (McKenzie Friend)
- Visa/Immigration Legal Consulting
Path 4: Keep all evidence and establish a "pattern record"
The biggest difficulty in obtaining evidence in cases of controlled violence is the need to prove "serious effect" - that is, these behaviors have caused substantial harm to your daily life, mental health, and personal safety.
You can do this:
- 📱 screenshot saves all threatening text messages, emails, and social media messages of
- 📝 keep a diary , record in detail the time and place of each incident, what the other party said, and your feelings
- 🩺 medical records , if you seek medical treatment for anxiety/depression/insomnia, keep GP or psychological consultation records
- 👥 witness testimony , tell your trusted friends/classmates/colleagues what happened to you, their testimony can be used as supporting evidence
- 📍 positioning/monitoring evidence , if you find a tracker, camera, or mobile phone monitoring software, take a photo and save it and call the police
4. Write at the end: You are not alone, the law is on your side
The victim in the Duren case finally escaped because she chose to run, call for help, and call the police at the most dangerous moment. The judge said during his sentencing: "She had the courage to escape and the wisdom to seek help."
The essence of controlling violence is to make you believe that "no one will believe you", "you can't live without me", and "calling the police will only make things worse" - but these are lies carefully crafted by the perpetrator.
The number of prosecutions for controlled violence under British law has increased 25 times in ten years, and the training system of the police and CPS is also constantly improving. You have the right to be protected, to live in safety, and to not be imprisoned by fear.
If you are not sure whether your situation constitutes controlled violence, or need professional legal advice:
You can contact our licensed immigration lawyers (WeChat: uklvshi / email: [email protected]), we will keep strict confidentiality and provide you with targeted legal support and visa protection solutions.
💬 Interactive topic: Do you know that someone around you is experiencing similar "invisible control"? How would you help them? Welcome to share your thoughts in the comment area (can be anonymous).
Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific cases.
data source:
1. CPS - Controlling or Coercive Behavior Guidance: https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/controlling-or-coercive-behaviour-intimate-or-family-relationship
2. GOV.UK - Apply for a non-molestation order: https://www.gov.uk/
3. NRPF Network - Support for domestic abuse survivors: https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/
📚 Data source
· https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/rise-coercive-control-charges-marks-decade-progress
·https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10896-026-01056-7
· https://idas.org.uk/what-we-do/domestic-abuse-support/victims-with-no-recourse-to-public-funds/