Thug jailed for reign of terror over girlfriend

CONTROLLING CABBIE VIOLENTLY ATTACKED WOMAN

A MAN has been jailed after he engaged in a ‘wicked’ campaign of abuse and control towards his expartner – including isolating her from family and friends, choosing what she wore and violently attacking her.

Zafran Mahmood, 36, began a relationship with the woman in 2018, but things quickly turned sour.

Also known as ‘Danny,’ Mahmood, of Oldham, became controlling by taking her phone from her and isolating her from friends and family, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.

The father-of-three, who had told her he was widowed, would control what she wore if he thought her clothes were too revealing.

When she discovered he was still married, she ended the relationship, but he began following her as she dropped her children off at school and when she went shopping.

After telling her he ended the relationship with his wife, the woman resumed the relationship with him, but the coercive behaviour continued.

Things escalated to the point where Mahmood became violent, and on one occasion hit her so hard that she was left with fluid on the brain and had to stay in hospital for two weeks.

Pleading guilty to breach of a nonmolestation order, engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour and two offences of assault by beating, Mahmood was sentenced to 40 weeks in jail. Outlining the facts, prosecutor Tess Kenyon said that the relationship began in 2018 but there appeared to be problems from the start.

“In April 2018 things took a turn,” Ms Kenyon said.

“He would come home and take her phone from her without warning, he became controlling and was monitoring her, and attempting to isolate her from her family and friends.

“She believed he was widowed, but in June 2018 she found out he was still married to his wife.

“On August 23, 2019, he became physically violent, punching and slapping her to the face and head.”

Mahmood, a taxi driver, moved out of her home in January this year, but he continued to harass her, it was said.

On one occasion she woke in the middle of the night to find him towering over her while she was in bed.

On January 21 this year, he turned up at her home to find an empty bottle of prosecco and became aggressive with her and hit her.

Two weeks later she went to London and collapsed, having to spend a week in hospital where it was explained she had fluid on the brain from the previous incident.

She then went home and spent a further week in Stepping Hill Hospital.

The court was told that Mahmood also installed a camera in her bathroom so he could monitor who attended the address.

A non-molestation order was created on May 6, banning him from contacting her.

In a victim personal statement read to the court, the woman said: “Due to the ongoing abuse and constant anxieties and him breaking the conditions, it shows he doesn’t care about the consequences.

“I constantly check the doors and windows are locked. I simply can’t relax anymore.”

In mitigation, his defence lawyer Raj Chopra said Mahmood has been married for 14 years and has three children.

“His wife says he pays 70 per cent of the bills and there has been no violence towards her,” Mr Chopra said. Sentencing him District Judge Jack McGarva said: “These are very serious offences and a substantial amount of violence was used during the relationship, which majorly impacted on her and her children.”

Mahmood, of Lees Road, was sentenced to 40 weeks imprisonment and ordered to pay £149 victim surcharge. He was also banned from contacting his ex-partner or entering the street where she lives for five years under the terms of a restraining order.

● If you need to speak to someone, call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

These are very serious offences and a substantial amount of violence was used District Judge Jack McGarva