Reice Bennett, also known as Reice Taylor, has been handed a tougher sentence after initially escaping immediate jail. The 28-year-old was first given a two-year sentence, suspended for two years for abusing Eloise Bennett at their Eltham home. But on Friday (February 27), the Court of Appeal slammed the sentence as “unduly lenient” and ordered Bennett straight to prison for three years.
Horrific Abuse Revealed
The court heard chilling details of Bennett’s torment. He repeatedly strangled Eloise until her vision blacked out, beat her with a leather belt, threw beer at her, punched her face, and kicked her, leaving bruises across her buttocks.
“Anything could start it. One time I made chicken fajitas for dinner, that wasn’t what he wanted so he strangled me until my eyes went fuzzy and I started blacking out. I thought I was going to die,” Eloise, 30, told this paper.
The abusive nightmare lasted from July 2022 to February 2023, but Bennett was not charged until June 2025. He pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm, threats to kill, and intentional strangulation.
Judge’s Leniency Sparks Outcry
The original sentencing judge, Recorder Timothy Corner KC, cited the case delay and Bennett’s conduct since the offences as reasons to avoid immediate jail.
“Having this matter hanging over you has clearly had a detrimental effect on you,” said the Old Bailey judge. “A delay is also relevant as it enables the court to see how much you have changed since the offences.”
Recorder Corner described the abuse as a “horrific campaign” but called Bennett’s case “exceptional,” justifying the suspended sentence. However, this was slammed by the Court of Appeal.
Warning: As Lenient Sentences Fuel Domestic Abuse
Eloise Bennett warned that soft sentences only embolden abusers.
“Domestic abuse will increase if perpetrators can get away with such ‘lenient’ sentences,” she said.
The Court of Appeal will publish its full judgment soon, explaining why it deemed Recorder Corner’s sentence too light.
