Man attacked and threatened woman who showed him kindness

Abdul Aziz Choon committed the prolonged and persistent assault on the victim in Bournemouth.

Bournemouth Crown Court heard this took place without reason after she had been kind to him in the weeks prior.

Alongside saying he would kill her; the defendant made reference to throwing acid at her and putting her in a wheelchair.

During a period of harassment that followed the attack, he suggested he knew the music that would play at her funeral and said he would look after her children.

The defendant and woman had been known to each other, but had not seen each other for about five years, the court heard.

Judge Jonathan Fuller KC told Choon he saw the complainant in April and he was “greeted kindly by her as somebody on whom she took pity because clearly you had fallen upon hard times and effectively you were homeless”.

The court heard in the weeks that followed the “chance meeting” in Curzon Road, the 44-year-old defendant was allowed to occasionally enter her home to use the bathroom and leave some of his belongings in the garden.

“Whatever brought about the assault was no fault of (the complainant) and there was certainly no justification for it,” Judge Fuller KC said.

The victim was walking to the shop when she encountered Choon.

His “manner and demeanour” led to her deciding to not enter the store and return home.

“She went down a nearby side street or alleyway and you pursued her and as she tried to go down the alleyway you blocked her path,” Judge Fuller KC said.

“You said you wanted a taxi and she helped you using your phone to call one. She then describes you as ‘simply freaking out’. You got in her face.

“She, obviously frightened about what you might do, threw your phone, which she was ringing the taxi for you on, away hoping that you would be distracted by that and then she could get away.

“What you did is you punch her to the top of the head just above the hairline. It must have been quite a blow because she described being lightheaded.”

Bournemouth Crown Court

The judge said two onlookers described how she was hit multiple times. She called for help and two young men intervened allowing her to escape.

“She went back towards her home,” Judge Fuller KC said. “You knew where she lived, clearly, and you managed to either catch up with her or lay in wait for her and what you did according to her is that you knocked her to the ground and then kicked her in the head and then you shouted threats to her such as ‘I am going to kill you. I am going to put acid in your face. I am going to put you in a wheelchair. I will make sure you never walk again’.

“All wholly irrational and inconsistent with your previous relations with this woman who had shown you kindness.”

Choon, of no fixed abode, was arrested and during a police interview denied the assault.

He was released on bail and several weeks later on May 19 went to her address and committed criminal damage.

“You threw a metal wheel at the rear patio window and then a brick and that damaged the rear patio window.”

The defendant also made more threats to the complainant and acted in a similar way two days later.

He managed to open a rear downstairs bathroom window before verbally intimidating her.

On May 22, Choon went to the property with another homeless person and they both threatened the complainant.

The following day he went back to her home and told her he was going to kill her in three days.

Judge Fuller KC said: “You made reference to the funeral and the music to be played and that you would look after her children. You then left.”

Prosecuting Ryan Murray, said the defendant had 24 previous convictions for 44 offences.

Choon pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of criminal damage and harassment, putting his victim in fear of violence.

Ned Sillett, mitigating, said: “It is clear Mr Choon has not shown himself in a good light through his actions.”

Mr Sillett said the defendant’s offending was linked to his abuse of alcohol and drugs, alongside his homelessness.

The court heard he had been in supported accommodation but fled because he was attacked around seven or eight months ago.

“He is clearly someone who needs help and would accept help if it was offered to him,” Mr Sillett said.

Judge Fuller KC jailed Choon for 27 months.

The judge told the defendant he could use the time behind bars to get clean from drink and drugs and engage in courses offered to inmates.

Choon was made subject to a 10-year restraining order.