Man sentenced for threatening woman with knife in East Sussex

A man who threatened a woman with a knife and falsely imprisoned her has been jailed.

Atul Rabbani-Brooker, 26, targeted the victim with a campaign of abuse, threats and violence in East Sussex.

The domestic abuser made threats to kill her, and carried out assaults and criminal damage.

The offences left the victim feeling “petrified” and in fear for her life after he threatened to stab her.

“I genuinely thought I was going to die that night,” she said.

The victim approached police, and officers ensured she was safeguarded and supported while the offences were investigated.

Phone evidence showed Rabbani-Brooker’s threats and violence towards her.

At Lewes Crown Court on 10 December, Rabbani-Brooker appeared for sentencing after admitting two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place, and two counts of criminal damage.

He was jailed for three and a half years for the offences.

The court heard how the offences were committed in March 2025, and the victim approached Sussex Police in April 2025 as she was concerned by Rabbani-Brooker’s decline.

After the final incident on 20 March, he threatened to stab and kill the victim.

The victim said: “I have never felt as vulnerable as I did that night. I feared for my life, I was petrified.”

She described the ongoing impact the offences continue to have, which have caused her “severe anxiety and trauma” and said she felt broken because of Rabbani-Brooker’s violence and abuse.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Steve Shimmons said: “This was a highly distressing case for the victim, who received specialist support from Sussex Police.

“I would like to commend her courage and bravery for coming forward to report these domestic abuse offences.

“We are committed to protecting women and girls and bringing perpetrators to justice, and this area remains a priority for Sussex Police

“We take reports like this extremely seriously, and launched an investigation into Rabbani-Brooker’s behaviour.

“As a result, he is now serving a significant custodial sentence, and is the subject of a ten-year Restraining Order not to contact the victim.”

Rabbani-Brooker, of London Road, St Leonards, is now serving the custodial sentence.

Further information for victims of domestic abuse and violence can find support online here. 

More information about how Sussex Police investigates domestic abuse is available online here.