A violent brute who forced his girlfriend to run on a treadmill because she “didn’t look as hot” as glamour models, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years in a historic ruling.
Obsessive 27-year-old Mohammed Anwaar criticised girlfriend Gemma Doherty’s appearance, saying she should look more like fitness model Graceyanne Barbosa.
Anwaar, who was also physically abusive, was jailed for 28 months for controlling or coercive behaviour, an offence that was only introduced at the end of 2015.
The abusive control freak would force his girlfriend to run on a treadmill, eat 50 tins of tuna every week and wear men’s clothes so as to not attract attention from other men. He also decided who she was and was not allowed to speak to.
Anwaar admitted nine counts of assault and criminal damage at Sheffield Crown Court.
Miss Doherty said what had been a “perfect” relationship for the first six months turned sour in May 2015.
Mixed in with Anwaar’s controlling behaviour were violent attacks, the most serious of which in August last year brought a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm.
After an argument over money, Anwaar first smashed Miss Doherty’s iPhone before attacking her with slaps and kicks, choking her and causing her to fall unconscious.
He assaulted her on five other occasions, often in front of her young sons. The most recent attack was on 5th March this year and this was when police were called.
Doherty said: “He treated me like an animal – almost like a guinea pig in a laboratory. He wanted me to have abs and a huge ass – a big one like Kim Kardashian.
“I felt like a zombie on autopilot and was at his beck and call – whatever and whenever.
“His favourite model was Graceyanne Barbosa and he would make me look at her fitness routines and practise them. If I didn’t he would beat me.”
The mum-of-two, formerly of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, said she feels she has “finally been brought back into the real world” now that Anwaar has been jailed, adding, “I’m happy with new my new found freedom”.
Anwaar’s conviction under legislation to tackle controlling behaviour could lead to cases with offenders facing five-year terms.
The law was introduced to tackle abuse, which does not amount to violence but still generates alarm or distress and affects day-to-day activities.
