Violent dad faces being deported to Spain again
A VIOLENT man who squeezed his girlfriend’s neck and subjected her to a terrifying hour-long attack may now be deported after a string of convictions for domestic violence.
Waqar Chowdry, 26, has already been deported to Spain twice, but returned to the UK because his son, family and friends live in the north west. The Spanish national, from Bury, has a string of convictions for domestic violence.
His latest conviction for a ‘prolonged and sustained’ attack on his girlfriend may mean that the Home Office takes action to deport him once again, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Jailing him for 11 months, Judge John Potter told Chowdry the attack must have been ‘terrifying.’
Prosecutor Sarah Johnston said Chowdry was living in a one-bedroom flat in Rochdale with his former partner. On December 7, the couple began to argue and Chowdry called the victim names before kicking her legs, hurling her mobile phone against a wall and punching her in the face.
The couple remained together until December 19, when Chowdry pushed his girlfriend onto the bed when she said she wanted to leave and, when she got up, he pushed her again and she slid to the floor, Ms Johnston said.
He picked up the victim by her legs, pushed her back onto the bed and squeezed her neck for ‘a few seconds.’
For the next hour, Chowdry repeatedly pushed his partner onto the bed, and grabbed around her throat telling her she couldn’t leave. Chowdry kneeled on her chest, punched her body and slapped her face. She managed to grab his neck and scratch him.
Mr Johnston said Chowdry went to the bathroom to clean the scratches and his partner took the chance to gather up her things and leave the flat.
He was arrested on January 19 and declined to answer the allegations made by the victim.
Chowdry has 10 previous convictions for what Mr Johnston described as 18 relevant ‘domestic’ offences, including battery. Mark Friend, defending, said the father-of-one has expressed ‘genuine remorse.’
Although Chowdry is a Spanish national born in Valencia, he has lived almost his entire life in the north west with his family, Mr Friend said.
He said Chowdry, a labourer, will likely have to set up a life away from his two-year-old son. Chowdry, of Louis Avenue, Bury, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, criminal damage and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
After the hearing, a Home Office spokesman said: “Foreign national offenders should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them.”