Family Solicitors

A father who refused to accept the relationship with his partner was over has been jailed after he dragged her from bed and cut off all her hair.

The Daily Mail reports that 28-year-old Ian Hassen – originally from Zimbabwe – could not accept the relationship with his partner of eight years, Rebecca Watton, was over.

The couple moved to Scotland together after meeting through friends in Surrey in 2004.

In December 2012, he attacked his former partner after finding messages from another man on her phone. At the time of the attack, their three children were watching television downstairs.

Mr Hassen had been staying at the house in Hamilton, Lanarkshire to look after the couple’s children, while Ms Watton went on a rare night out, the court heard.

Ms Watton said she had met a man on her night out, who had asked her out on a date.

She said Hassen tied her up and questioned her “endlessly” about what she had done the night before, and then launched an attack on her.

“Without saying a word, he grabbed me by the ponytail that my long hair was tied in and dragged me out of bed – my hair felt like it was being ripped out by the roots and the pain was excruciating,” Ms Watton said.

“Tears streamed down my face and I thought he was going to kill me. Then he started pulling at my hair and I heard the clicking sound of the blades.

“I knew then he was cutting my hair off – I could feel the blades opening and snapping shut against my scalp.
“He wanted to make me unattractive, like less of a woman,” she added.

Hassen then told her to take a shower while he vacuumed up her hair.

The assault left Ms Watton “bruised and bald”, but she had avoided further injuries by persuading her former partner to take her shopping – while out, she begged shop staff to call the police.

Hassen was arrested after police officers arrived to speak to the couple and Ms Watton removed a hat she was wearing to show them what he had done.

The court was told that while she was being attacked, Ms Watton was on her knees with her head down and her hands over her face.

Hassen admitted assaulting his former partner and on Friday (19/09/14), he was jailed for 12 months by Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Douglas Brown told Hassen in court:

“There is considerable public concern about domestic violence – and the courts have to apply a sentence to let it be known that it is not acceptable.

“This is a serious case. You threatened your partner and humiliated her by cutting off her hair, presumably to make her less attractive to other men.

“There is no alternative to custody and the period for that will be 12 months’ imprisonment.”

Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of domestic violence solicitors and can advise victims of domestic violence on their rights under the law.

Duncan Lewis is also one of the UK’s leading providers of Legal Aid services – and can advise on domestic violence matters under UK law or Islamic law.

For confidential help with domestic violence law, call the Duncan Lewis Domestic Violence Solicitors’ Helpline on 07920 077054.