Jealous Dewsbury dad breached restraining order and attacked his pregnant former partner at her flat

Ahtisham Zahid left the woman felling "petrified" in her home by constantly threatening her and turning up outside her flat in Hyde Park.

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim had to have a panic alarm fitted to her property because she was so frightened of him.

Zahid assaulted his former partner after managing to gain entry through a communal entrance to the flats on Belle Vue Road on December 8 last year.

Jade Edwards, prosecuting, said Zahid was made the subject of a restraining order after he continued to harass the woman when their abusive relationship ended.

The defendant and the woman have a child together and she was six months pregnant with his second child at the time of the assault.

Zahid first breached the order by turning up at her home on October 1 while the victim was there with her child and her mother.

They refused to answer when Zahid pressed the buzzer to the flat but he made threats and demanded to be allowed in when he saw her mother at the window.

He breached the order again on November 18 by sending her 12 abusive messages on WhatsApp.

On December 6 he followed the woman in his car after she got out of a taxi.

The woman ran and hid in a car park behind a shop when she spotted Zahid's car.

The defendant followed her in the vehicle and demanded she get into the car.

She ran into the shop to get help but Zahid followed her inside.

He accused her of having a secret Snapchat account and seeing other men.

The shopkeeper rang the police. Zahid picked up some sweets and threw them at the woman before leaving.

The assault took place two days later when Zahid again turned up at her home.

The victim pressed the panic alarm because she was on her own.

Zahid followed two people in through the communal entrance to the flats.

The woman feared for her safety and tried to get to a public place but Zahid came out of the lift before she could get away.

He was threatening and abusive before pulling her hair.

Police arrived at the flats and used spray to detain the defendant.

Zahid, of Ward Street, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to assault and four breaches of a restraining order.

The woman provided a victim statement to the court describing how she believed Zahid was "evil" and a "monster".

Miss Edwards said: "She believes that if he is released from custody he will kill her or their child or their unborn baby."

Phillip Mahoney, mitigating, said: "He accepts that his behaviour was completely unacceptable."

The barrister added: "This was his first serious romantic relationship and he accepts that he did not take the end of the relationship well and he struggles with it."

Zahid was jailed for nine months.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "You were petrifying her. Just think of how you made her feel.

"She was so scared. She was running away from you and calling the police whenever you were near her.

"It was motivated by your jealousy and possessiveness.

"This was persistent criminality and a persistent breach of your restraining order."