First man charged under NSW coercive control laws avoids jail time

A New South Wales man has become the first person charged under the state's new coercive control laws but has avoided jail time. He was arrested in July after a woman reported his controlling behavior to police. The man pleaded guilty to coercive control and other domestic violence offenses, including assault and stalking. He was sentenced to an 18-month intensive corrections order, to be served in the community, and must complete 120 hours of community service. The coercive control laws were enacted in July 2023, following nearly a year of police training. The laws aim to address patterns of controlling behavior in domestic situations.