Muhammad Ali, 36 from Shepparton, in court over assault charges
A Shepparton dad grabbed a woman by the hair and neck as she tried to escape his car during an argument.
Goulburn Valley
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A Pakistan father stopped a woman from escaping his car by grabbing her hair and neck, leaving her distressed and with bruises.
Muhammad Ali pleaded guilty at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to one count of unlawful assault and other charges.
The court heard the 36-year-old was sitting in his car with the victim in Shepparton in January this year.
As an argument escalated, Ali slapped the terrified woman and grabbed her by the hair and neck when she tried to escape.
The victim slapped Ali and exited the vehicle, to which he tried to force her back inside, the court heard.
Surrounding witnesses called police who arrested the 36-year-old and took him to Shepparton Police Station.
Although Ali was compliant with police, he denied all the allegations in relation to the assault, the court was told.
Ali’s defence lawyer Luke Slater said Ali had had a difficult life as his father had passed away.
He spoke of Ali’s past in Quetta, Pakistan, where he was in danger and suffered a finger injury when the city was targeted by a fundamentalist group.
Ali also suffered from a groin injury from a bomb blast in 2006.
Mr Slater said Ali had been engaging with counselling services and was pleading guilty to the charges.
The victim told the court she had forgiven him for what he had done, apologised for her own behaviour and said she didn’t want him charged.
But Magistrate Alexandra Burt said Ali’s behaviour was “completely unacceptable”.
Ms Burt said she was aware the victim did not want Ali charged but still imposed a penalty on Ali, informing him the penalty would have been worse if he had pleaded not guilty.
Ali was placed on a good behaviour bond without conviction and was ordered to pay $300 to the court contribution fund.
Ms Burt said if Ali returned to court again he could receive a much “sterner” sentence.
She encouraged him to continue to contact counselling services for support.
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