Dad jailed for 'appalling' attack on former partner at her Sunderland home that left her 'struggling for breath'

Syed Miah, 28, threw a heavy candle holder at the woman in an act which just missed one of the couple’s children and caused £100 of damage to a cupboard on July 7.

He then climbed through a window of the property and “launched” himself at her, grabbing her by the throat, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard.

In evidence read to the court by prosecutor Rehana Haque, his victim said: “I was struggling for breath.”

Mrs Haque said she then “plucked up the courage to fight back”, persuading Miah to temporarily calm down.

But he then picked up a garden fork and threw it at a double glazed window of the council house.

The court heard she had asked him to put the implement down because another of their children was sitting close by, which Miah did.

Instead, he picked up a child’s buggy and tossed it at the glass, causing it to smash, Mrs Haque said.

At that point, she said Miah then “began grovelling for me to forgive him”, the court heard.

The woman was able to contact a neighbour who called police and Miah was arrested.

Miah, who appeared in court via video link from HMP Durham, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage and assault by beating.

He also admitted failing to surrender to police custody on February 27, and driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance, both on the A690 at Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

Joanne Gatens, defending, said: “The domestic incidents are almost 12 months ago and there’s been no other incidents between the parties.

“He had acquired some debts and was put under pressure to take a vehicle and drop it off as payment for those debts.”

District Kathryn Meek told Miah: “The assault is appalling. The criminal damage in the context is appalling.”

She sentenced him to 16 weeks’ imprisonment for the assault and to eight weeks for driving while banned, to run consecutively.

He was given four weeks’ jail for criminal damage and one week for failing to surrender, to run concurrently.

And he was given a further two-week jail term, to run concurrently, in remittance of £1,500 in fines he owes the courts.

Miah, who is already banned from driving for three years, was given a further 15 month disqualification.

There was no penalty for driving without insurance but he must not enter the woman’s street and was handed a two-year restraining order from contacting her.

He can only do so for the purposes of child contact via the third party of a solicitor, children’s service Cafcass, a family court or a local authority.

Miah, of Haig Street, Ferryhill, must also pay a £122 victim surcharge.

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