Wife forgives husband's attack

Bashir's sentence was reduced by two years

The jail sentence of a man who attacked his wife with a butcher's knife has been cut after judges heard the woman had forgiven her husband.

Mohammed Bashir was originally jailed for six years but his sentence was reduced to four years on appeal.

Bashir, 58, carried out the unprovoked attack on his wife, Naseem, after a row about his drinking.

Her thumb and finger were cut off and she required extensive surgery to reattach them.

It is possible and appropriate to take a somewhat more lenient view than did the sentencing judge

Lord Macfadyen

Mrs Bashir, a mother of five from Pollokshields, in Glasgow, also suffered a fractured skull.

Appeal court judges heard that the couple had not spoken for two days after an argument about his drinking.

He went out on the evening of the assault and said he was going to the mosque but in fact he went drinking.

Mrs Bashir, 43, was in bed with her one-year-old grandson at the family home in Dixon Avenue when her husband woke her and began to attack her.

Family members came to her aid and Bashir eventually turned himself in to police.

He admitted assaulting his wife on 16 October, 2001.

Given up drinking

Trial judge Lord Hardie jailed him for six years and told him: "You are fortunate not to be facing a murder charge."

His lawyers said the sentence was "excessive" and went to the appeal court.

Appeal judges, Lord Kirkwood and Lord Macfadyen, heard that the couple had been married for 27 years and Bashir had no criminal record.

The judges were told that Mrs Bashir has forgiven him.

His lawyers also said Bashir's attack was a one-off and he has given up drinking.

Lord Macfadyen said: "We are persuaded that when account is taken to his good character, his abandonment of the abuse of alcohol, and the attitude of the victim and indeed his family as a whole, it is possible and appropriate to take a somewhat more lenient view than did the sentencing judge."