Serial domestic abuser attacked partner while driving car

Mujtaba Choudry was told he had carried out a "protracted pattern of abuse".

A domestic abuser from Alloa who attacked his partner as he drove her along a dual carriageway has been jailed for two years.

Mujtaba Choudry grabbed his victim by the hair as he drove at excessive speed on the A720 Edinburgh bypass and pushed her head against the car door.

A sheriff said Choudry, 23, had been "controlling, violent and manipulative" towards the woman during a six-month campaign of abuse which began in October last year.

Choudry previously admitted a series of domestic abuse incidents carried out in Alloa, Falkirk, and other locations.

The attack on the woman happened when she told him she wanted to end their relationship.

It was Choudry's second conviction for domestic abuse towards the same woman, but the first resulting in time in prison.

A social background report classed Choudry as at "maximum risk" of reoffending, and said he exhibited "entrenched behaviours".

Stirling Sheriff Court heard Choudry controlled the woman's social media accounts and became angry when she made arrangements to see friends.

He repeatedly phoned her when she was with her friends, limited her mobile phone use, and threatened to harm himself when she discussed ending their relationship.

The court heard he compressed her neck, kicked her on the head, threw her make-up, pulled her from a sofa and dragged her bodily along the floor.

He carried on his behaviour, "blatantly flouting" a court order to stay away from her.

'Protracted pattern of abuse'

Solicitor Robert Smith, defending, said Choudry showed "genuine remorse and shame".

Sheriff Euan Gosney also imposed a year's supervision following his release from jail, and made Choudry subject to a non-harassment order banning him from contacting his victim for 10 years.

Sheriff Gosney said Choudry had engaged in a "protracted pattern of abuse" towards his victim.

He added: "When you were driving a car on a motorway and she had told you she no longer wanted to be in a relationship with you, you reacted by grabbing her by the mouth with force, grabbing her hair, and striking her head off the car door, all while travelling at excessive speed and causing your car to swerve on the motorway.

"You not only placed yourself and your victim, but other road users, at risk of serious harm."