A refugee has been using ‘GBH-level violence involving weapons’ on his girlfriend a Wiltshire Police detective has told Swindon Magistrates’ Court.
Muhanad Abdulraheem Dafaalah, 19, appeared before JPs today (21 February), having been arrested eight days after officers sought him for breaching a domestic violence protection order (DVPO).
The 28-day order was imposed at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court shortly after he was arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily (GBH) harm on his girlfriend.
Shannon Culleton, 21, was taken to hospital with a minor knife injury to her side following a disturbance at his address in Fleece Cottages on 2 February.
Dafaalah was later released without charge, but the DVPO prohibits him from molesting or contacting his partner by any means, or entering or attempting to enter her address in Salisbury.
However, DC Rachel Lennon, of Wiltshire Police’s safeguarding team in Swindon, told the court that the defendant had been spotted with Miss Culleton at Applegreen service station in Trowbridge at about 11pm on 12 February, where they attempted to purchase beers.
The staff member refused to serve the couple and told them they shouldn’t be together after reading Wiltshire 999s’ coverage of the DVPO being imposed, and later alerted the police.
“There is a high risk of domestic violence from the suspect but Miss Culleton is not engaging with the police”, DC Lennon said.
Adding: “She is extremely vulnerable. They are in a toxic relationship and the suspect’s violence has been escalating from low level to GBH-level involving weapons.
“She doesn’t want a child with the suspect, which causes him to become violent. He is a refugee with leave to remain in the UK until [inaudible] 2023.”
Despite efforts to locate Dafaalah and social workers urging him to present himself to the police, he failed to do so. He was arrested on a warrant eight days after the date of the offence.
He has a “showed complete disregard for the law and the court”, DC Lennon exclaimed.
Mark Glendenning, defending, said his client accepts the breach of DVPO, but claims his girlfriend approached him and asked him how he was. He says the pair then went their separate ways.
He told the court that Miss Culleton is a “willing participant” in continuing the relationship.
Maryanne Burton, chair of the bench, imposed a £50 fine and told Dafaalah that his financial penalty is deemed served due to a 28-hour stint in police custody.
“You must abide by the order”, she warned him.
