A 51-year-old Asian man, Chaudry Mahmood, was arrested and charged with assault after punching his partner in the face in a public place in front of shocked witnesses.

As the man expressed after the incident, he believes that hitting women is acceptable in “Asian culture” and that she got what she deserved.

Mahmood was verbally fighting with his former sister-in-law, turned partner, who he had been in a relationship for five months. After an intense argument, which took place in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, the 51-year-old punched her in the face.

One of the witnesses stopped their car and immediately called the police while taking photographs of the assailant.

According to prosecutor Natalie Chapman, a witness reported seeing the victim get punched as she was sitting on a bench.

“A male was stood up close by and with his right hand he punched her to the side of her face, causing her to move,” the prosecutor claimed.

“Immediately the witness pulled over, took photos of the defendant and called 999. He heard a heated exchange but not what was being said. She looked annoyed and walked towards a car, getting into the driver’s seat.

“The defendant then walked over and sat in the passenger seat.”

Upon the arrest, Mahmood told the officers that he had only “pushed” his partner and claimed that his actions were acceptable in his “Asian culture.”

“When asked if he’d do anything differently he said ‘no,’” Chapman added.

Mahmood’s defendant, Mohammed Arif, however, argued that the victim hit Mahmood first and added that “she was his sister-in-law and it’s not gone down very well within the family.

“They are very upset that the defendant has entered into a relationship with his ex-sister-in-law, now his partner, and he’s been the subject of harassment by members of the family from both sides.

“He’s reported matters to police on numerous occasions and on the day in question they’d gone to get away from the harassment when the family issues have arisen.”

According to Arif, Mahmood retaliated to the alleged hit by punching his partner in the face. “He’s then retaliated and accepts he’s gone beyond any kind of self-defense. He regrets his actions, it was a momentary incident.

“Having been charged with this offense they’ve waited for this hearing to take place so that they can make a fresh start and move away from the area,” Arif told the magistrates.

Mahmood eventually pleaded guilty to assault and was fined less than $300 in total by the Kirklees Magistrates’ Court.

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