A man told his pregnant wife “I will eat your heart” after she asked him to keep the noise down during an early morning phone call, a court heard.
Moroccan Ismal Abouchai, 33, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning having been arrested yesterday (17 May). He pleaded guilty to a malicious communication offence.
Crown prosecutor Ben Worthington said the defendant, of Bright Street, Gorse Hill, had been in the loft of his house making phone calls to family and friends from around 9pm on Sunday after drinking a large amount of alcohol.
His wife, of more than five years, asked him – over text message – to keep his voice down over concerns he was disturbing their three-year-old daughter who was trying to sleep. She reiterated her request over several hours, but at 1.30am on Monday he responded with several concerning threats.
Abouchai messaged: “I can kill you when you’re sleeping… I can kill everyone because it’s only ten years in the prison.” He sent further messages warning her to ‘be careful’ before adding: “I will eat your heart”.
Concerned by the content of the messages, she called the police. Officers attended and arrested the defendant, who told them he had drunk more than five bottles of wine.
Defending, Tony Nowogrodzki said his client was “feeling rather depressed” after his wife had decided she no longer wanted to share a bed with him. They have been sleeping in separate bedrooms since 7 May.
He told how Abouchai is currently in the UK on a two-year Visa with one year left.
Mr Nowogrodzki said the defendant was “feeling lonely and isolated” and as a result, consumed quite a lot of alcohol this evening. He said he bitterly regrets sending the messages in the heat of the moment, adding that he had no intention of carrying them out.
The court heard his wife offered to pay for his flight back to Morocco, but Mr Nowogrodzki said “That’s not her decision to make. It’s a free country.”
Magistrates imposed a 12-month restraining order prohibiting Abouchai from attending Bright Street, contacting his victim directly or indirectly, except via a professional relating to child contact.
He was also fined £40 and told to pay a victim surcharge of £34.
