A vile thug attacked his wife in front of their children after an argument about online banking. Ziabul Miah used their kids' toys to hit his terrified victim, before standing on her neck until she stopped moving.
Following a sentencing hearing at Bolton Crown Court, Miah was released from custody, after spending the last 14 months on remand. The Honorary Recorder of Bolton Judge Martin Walsh said that because of the 'exceptional circumstances' of the time already served, the most appropriate sentence was a community order.
Prosecution barrister Joshua Bowker told the court that Miah had married his victim in Bangladesh in 2015 but for the first three years, it was a long-distance marriage - with her still living in Bangladesh and Miah living in the UK. When she moved to the UK, the previously happy marriage became 'negative', Mr Bowker said.
READ MORE : Uninsured teenage driver led cops on 'appalling' high speed chase days after careless driving arrest
At the time of the incident, on February 8 2021, the couple were living in Oldham with their two sons, aged two and 12-years-old. Miah and his victim got into an argument about online banking and also asked him to buy medicine for one of their children, the court heard.
Miah, 43, grabbed her throat and strangled her until she pushed him away with her leg. He then picked up a toy car and hit her in the eye and head, before using a scooter to do the same.
His victim was eventually knocked to the floor and Miah stood on her neck until she stopped moving. Mr Bowker told the court that she believes he only stopped because he thought she was dead.
The assault lasted for around two hours, the court heard. The victim eventually managed to run to a neighbour's house to call the police.
Miah, of Sylvan Street, Chadderton, was arrested and answered no comment to all questions apart from one, which he laughed in response to. He was originally charged with a section 18 assault but the Crown eventually accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of section 20 assault.
In a victim personal statement, Miah's victim said that she is "very mentally down" since the incident and "could not understand" why their marriage "changed". Mr Bowker also told the court that she is now living in a refuge.
Defending, Andrew Marsh made reference to Miah's lack of previous convictions and the time he has spent in custody, since the day after the attack.
Judge Walsh sentenced Miah to a two-year community order. He said: "You subjected her to a violent and gratuitous attack which was sustained in nature and she was a vulnerable victim.
"Having regard to the fact that you have already spent a significant amount of time in custody, the appropriate sentence in my view is a community order. I make it abundantly clear that had it not been for the time you’ve already spent in custody, an immediate of imprisonment would have followed."
Miah will have to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days. A restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting him from contacting his victim or going within 100 metres of her for the next five years.
