A Birmingham man labelled as posing a high risk to future intimate partners has been sentenced to a suspended prison term due to changes in sentencing legislation.
Connor Hall was responsible for attacks on his former girlfriend on two occasions, resulting in serious injuries including a black eye sustained during the later assault.
Hall, who had been in custody since February, was handed a two year and eleven month suspended sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday, 22 September. This was made possible by the Sentencing Act 2026, which permits jail sentences of up to three years to be suspended, whereas previously the maximum was two years.
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Judge Peter Cooke acknowledged the severity of Hall’s offences and recognised that many would expect an immediate custodial sentence. However, he emphasised his principal concern was to prevent any other young women from experiencing similar harm.
The judge determined that Hall receiving rehabilitative support from probation services would more effectively achieve this aim than an extended prison term.
Hall’s first attack occurred on 22 March last year. Prosecutor Christopher Pembridge explained that Hall had invaded his partner’s privacy by going through her phone while she slept, discovering messages exchanged with another man. This led to a confrontation where Hall slapped her and they argued verbally.
Both admitted to physical altercations during the dispute, which culminated in Hall pinning her down and strangling her for approximately ten seconds, leaving her temporarily unable to breathe.
The second incident took place on 16 January this year inside a taxi. When the victim requested to be dropped off separately to avoid Hall, he became aggressive, pulling her hair and repeatedly punching her in the face. The taxi driver witnessed Hall continuing the assault with punches and kicks. Hall then forced his girlfriend out of the vehicle and attacked her further on the ground before fleeing the scene.
Photos of the victim’s injured face, including a severe black eye, were displayed in court at Judge Cooke’s request.
Defence lawyer Holly Sims stated that Hall accepted responsibility for his actions and expressed remorse, attributing his behaviour in part to excessive alcohol and cocaine use. She noted Hall’s troubled childhood but highlighted his engagement in educational courses while in custody.
Hall, aged 29 and from Francis Road, Stechford, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The probation service assessed that Hall poses a high risk of harm to future intimate partners.
Judge Cooke explained that, under the new government release regime, any custodial sentence would see Hall serve only one-third of his term in prison, with time already spent on remand counting towards this. Instead, the judge imposed the suspended sentence and ordered Hall to complete the Building Choices programme, participate in up to 30 days of rehabilitation activities, and perform 180 hours of unpaid work.
A restraining order prohibits Hall from contacting his former partner.