Michael Miah, a 49-year-old unemployed father from Herbert Road in Small Heath, was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Monday, July 13, after being convicted of assault by beating. The incident occurred on Monday, August 26, 2024, at a supermarket in Birmingham.
Attack in Car Park
Miah followed his ex-wife into the shop and then confronted her in the car park. He recorded her on his phone and shouted abuse, calling her a 'slag' and a 'prostitute'. When she opened her car door, he slammed it shut and punched her in the face, causing a cut to her nose and under her eye.
Prosecutor Miss Alexandra Youster told the court: “The victim in this case is the defendant’s ex-partner. She was at a supermarket car park and had done her shopping and was returning to her vehicle. She noticed the defendant. He was recording her and said: This is the slag prostitute. He continued recording her. Whilst at her vehicle, she opened her car door. The defendant slammed it shut and punched her in the face, causing a cut to her nose and under her eye.”
Impact on Victim
The victim briefly lost consciousness for one to two minutes. In a victim impact statement, she said: “I was assaulted in a public supermarket car park. He punched me to the face. I briefly lost consciousness for one or two minutes. During this incident, he was also recording me. He repeatedly called me a prostitute and slag and I belong to a brothel family. The verbal abuse was as bad as the physical assault. I was unable to take my upset child to school for a week. The impact on my children has been significant. Knowing my children have been upset by the violence has added to it.”
Defendant's Background
Miah had nine convictions for 14 offences, including previous violence and harassment. He is unemployed and receives around £800 a month in benefits. The court heard he has serious heart and lung conditions and is on serious medication.
Defending, Mr Abdullah Durrani said: "The couple had been together for seven years and had been separated for 17 years. They shared three children together, two under 18s. There were no previous issues reported between these two. This wasn’t a planned offence. He was clearly emotionally upset and stressed at the time. He lives in an HMO provided by the council. His three children, he supports them as much as he can, he has limited means."
Sentence
Chair of the magistrates’ bench, Ms A Aggarwal, sentenced Miah to an 18-month community order. He was also fined £86 and ordered to pay costs of £200, reduced from £650. A five-year restraining order was imposed, prohibiting any contact with his ex-wife except regarding their children. The order includes no emails, texts, video, or social media contact.
