Man sentenced for coercive control – Reading

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man from Reading has been sentenced after being found guilty of coercive control.

Imran Beg, aged 35, of Brighton Road, Reading was found guilty by majority jury verdict of one count of coercive control, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count each of malicious communications and intimidation of a witness following a nine day trial at Oxford Crown Court on 6 December last year.

He was acquitted of one count of assault.

At a previous hearing, Beg pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a class B drug – namely cannabis.

Beg was sentenced to four years in prison, plus an additional year due to him being classified as dangerous, on Wednesday (1/3).

Between November 2021 and June 2022 Beg assaulted the victim on a number of occasions, in which she sustained injuries including black eyes, a sore throat, and bruising to her body and feet.

Beg also controlled what the victim wore, who she spoke with, and stopped her from seeing friends and family.

Beg was arrested on 28 June last year and was charged the following day.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sian Lewis, of the Domestic Abuse Investigations Unit, said: “No person should have to endure what the victim was subjected to by Imran Beg.

“Beg has rightly been given a custodial sentence and I hope this allows the victim to move on from the terrible ordeal she underwent and the sentence can bring some form of closure as she rebuilds her life.

“It is never acceptable for someone to act in this manner, making others’ lives a misery and we would encourage anyone experiencing coercive behaviour to come forward and report it to us either online or by calling 101. We will listen and support you.”

LW