Muhammed Umar, a 26-year-old man from Winson Green, Birmingham, has narrowly avoided an immediate prison term after admitting to strangling, punching, and slapping his former girlfriend in several violent attacks. During the initial attack, Umar pressed his then partner against a car window and strangled her for approximately 20 seconds by digging his thumb into her neck.
Subsequent assaults resulted in the victim sustaining a broken nose and injuries to her eye. Medical professionals advised that she was fortunate not to suffer permanent vision loss or a brain bleed.
Umar pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) only on the day of his trial. At Birmingham Crown Court earlier this month, Judge Ian Strongman sentenced him to 27 months in prison, suspended for three years, alongside a five-year restraining order and 25 rehabilitation activity days.
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The judge explained that recent sentencing guidelines allow sentences under three years to be suspended and remarked, “It is by the skin of his teeth I would be justified in suspending the sentence.”
During the plea hearing, Umar’s defence barrister highlighted that Umar had spent nearly the entire year in custody since his arrest on 2 January and had a limited previous record, which included a conviction for cannabis possession in 2022. The defence further noted that Umar had suffered mobility issues following a serious accident prior to the offences, which had disrupted his medical treatment.
Despite these factors, Judge Strongman noted a lack of genuine remorse from Umar, citing his delay in admitting guilt and disrespectful comments to the victim. After the strangulation incident, Umar told the victim, “Look what you made me do,” and following another attack, he messaged her from hospital stating, “How is your eye? You provoked me, I didn’t hit you for no reason.”
In her victim impact statement, the ex-partner described Umar’s behaviour as “cruel, frightening and controlling,” saying she often felt belittled, worthless, vulnerable, and unsafe due to his intimidating and manipulative conduct. The defence counsel confirmed that Umar did not dispute any aspect of this statement, acknowledging the shame it caused him.
This case highlights the impact of recent changes in sentencing guidelines relating to domestic abuse cases and the careful balancing of custodial decisions within the justice system.