BENJAMIN FLATTERS CHARGED WITH NON-FATAL STRANGULATION IN LINCOLNSHIRE FOLLOWING NEW DOMESTIC ABUSE LAW
Law enforcement officers in Lincolnshire have taken a man into custody and formally charged him under a newly enacted legal statute aimed at strengthening protections for victims of domestic abuse.Benjamin Flatters, a 31-year-old resident of Dorchester Road in Spalding, stands accused of committing an act of non-fatal strangulation during an alleged assault that reportedly occurred on June 23.
Following his arrest, Flatters was brought before Lincoln Magistrates Court on July 1.
During this court appearance, he entered a plea of not guilty specifically to the charge of non-fatal strangulation, a fresh offence introduced to the legal system as part of efforts to better address domestic abuse cases.
Despite his plea regarding this charge, Flatters admitted to guilt on three other counts, which included criminal damage to property, making threats to damage property, and failing to comply with notification requirements related to the sex offenders register.
Due to the seriousness of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding his case, Flatters was remanded into custody, pending the upcoming trial on the strangulation charge.
The date for this trial has not yet been specified.
The charge itself stems from the recent legislative change brought about by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which was officially enacted on June 7, 2022.
This new law creates a distinct offence of non-fatal strangulation, carrying a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
Prior to this legislation, victims of such acts might have been limited to charges like actual bodily harm or common assault, which potentially underestimated the severity of the act, especially since strangulation can often leave no visible physical marks.
Detective Inspector Richard Nethercott emphasized the significance of this legal development, stating, “The new legislation is potentially life-changing and lifesaving.
If found guilty of non-fatal strangulation, a perpetrator will face up to five years in prison.
Along with non-fatal suffocation, it’s a form of abuse that we sadly sometimes see in a domestic setting, where a perpetrator will use it to intimidate and control their victim.
It’s terrifying to endure and incredibly dangerous.” He further noted the law’s importance in the broader context of safeguarding vulnerable individuals, particularly women and girls, from violent abuse.
The legislation represents a critical step forward in tackling domestic violence and enhancing the legal protections available to victims.
Law enforcement agencies across Lincolnshire are committed to employing their full range of powers to combat all forms of abuse, including non-fatal strangulation and suffocation, which are increasingly recognized as serious criminal acts that demand rigorous prosecution.
