Former police CCTV operator sentenced for coercive abuse and data offences

Russell Hasler, 42, from Llandysul, was handed a 17‑month prison sentence — suspended for 18 months — at Swansea Crown Court on Monday 24 November. He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, attend 20 days of rehabilitation activity, and pay a £500 fine. A five‑year restraining order has been imposed to protect the victim.

Hasler had worked as a civilian CCTV operator for Dyfed‑Powys Police until his arrest in October 2023. He resigned the following month and was later charged with coercive and controlling behaviour towards his ex‑partner, alongside offences under data protection and computer misuse legislation.

He admitted the data protection offence and initially denied coercive control, but changed his plea shortly before trial. The computer misuse charge was dropped from proceedings.

Victim impact statement: “The damage cannot be undone”

In a statement read to the court, the victim described the long‑term impact of the abuse, saying:

“There were times when the emotional pain, torment and relentlessness of the abuse became so overwhelming that I questioned whether I could carry on.”

She detailed ongoing cognitive and physical symptoms linked to chronic anxiety and stress, including memory lapses, intrusive thoughts, and persistent discomfort.

Police response: “A profound betrayal of public trust”

Detective Constable Simon Reynolds, from Dyfed‑Powys Police’s Professional Standards Department, said the case represented a serious breach of public trust.

“Controlling and coercive behaviour has a devastating impact on its victims,” he said. “The fact that Russell Hasler was a police staff member at the time of offending, compounded by his breaching of Data Protection legislation, is a profound betrayal of the standards that the public should rightly expect.”

He praised the victim’s courage in supporting the investigation and said the sentencing should reassure the public that such offences are taken seriously.

#cctv #coerciveAndControllingBehaviour #computerMisuse #dataProtection #dyfedPowysPolice #llandysul #policeCctvOperator #policeComputerMisuse #policeProfessionalStandards

Dyfed‑Powys and South Wales Police buck national decline in coercive control charges

Local forces top the table

Almost ten years after coercive and controlling behaviour (CCB) was made a criminal offence under the Serious Crime Act 2015, new analysis shows that Dyfed‑Powys Police and South Wales Police are leading the way nationally in bringing charges.

• Dyfed‑Powys Police saw the biggest rise in England and Wales, with the proportion of offences leading to a charge or summons more than doubling from 4.05% to 8.65% in the past year.
• South Wales Police recorded the second‑highest increase, climbing from 10.11% to 11.16%.

By contrast, many other forces saw their charge rates fall, with the City of London dropping to zero and Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire also recording sharp declines.

What coercive control means

Coercive control covers patterns of intimidation, isolation, financial restriction and emotional manipulation. It was recognised in law in 2015 to reflect the reality that abuse is not always physical, but can still have devastating and long‑lasting effects.

Family law specialists say the rise in charges in Wales may reflect more victims feeling able to report abuse, but also highlights the scale of the problem.

“Statistics only tell part of the story”

Kathryn McTaggart, family law solicitor and director at Woolley & Co, said:

“Clients often describe years of financial restriction, emotional manipulation, or social isolation – behaviours that don’t just end when the relationship does. They continue to shape how safe someone feels during separation, whether they can engage in mediation, and the tone of negotiations.”

She warned that while criminal prosecutions show progress in some areas, the family courts remain inconsistent. Allegations of coercive control are often raised in divorce, child contact and financial disputes, but the way courts respond can vary dramatically.

What it means for families in Wales

• In divorce cases, coercive control is increasingly cited in petitions, but survivors often feel the abuse is invisible in financial settlements.
• In child contact disputes, courts are expected to investigate allegations before making decisions, but practice varies widely.
• In financial proceedings, the law sets a high bar for conduct to affect asset division, leaving many survivors feeling the economic impact of abuse is overlooked.

Campaigners say that without consistent recognition across both criminal and family courts, survivors remain at risk of being retraumatised by the very systems meant to protect them.

Ruth Dodsworth: speaking out after coercive control conviction

ITV Wales presenter Ruth Dodsworth has become one of the most high‑profile voices raising awareness of coercive control after her ex‑husband, Jonathan Wignall, was jailed in 2021 for a near‑decade campaign of harassment and abuse.

Since then, Ruth has spoken publicly about the impact of coercive control on her life and family, using her platform to encourage survivors to seek help and to press for stronger safeguards in both the criminal justice system and the family courts.

Related articles

• Maesteg man jailed after subjecting teenager to years of coercive control
• Long prison sentence for vile Swansea man who raped and controlled women
• ‘Immature’ Aberavon man jailed following controlling and abusive behaviour

Ruth Dodsworth: Speaking out on coercive control

ITV Wales presenter Ruth Dodsworth has spoken publicly about her experiences of coercive control after her ex-husband, Jonathan Wignall, was jailed in 2021 for a near-decade-long campaign of harassment and abuse.

Since the case, Ruth has become a prominent voice in raising awareness of domestic abuse, sharing her story to encourage others to seek help and to highlight the importance of safeguarding.

• TV presenter’s ex-husband jailed after near decade-long campaign of harassment and controlling behaviour
• ITV’s Ruth Dodsworth talks about her experiences of domestic abuse in support of National Safeguarding Week

#abuse #coerciveAndControllingBehaviour #coerciveControl #criminalCourt #divorce #DyfedPowysPolice #emotionalManipulation #familyCourt #familyLaw #financialRestriction #harassment #intimidation #isolation #law #relationships #RuthDodsworth #SeriousCrimeAct #socialIsolation #SouthWalesPolice