Exclusive:Sheffield man who witnessed Taliban beheading threatened to take partner's head off and carry it around
Defendant’s brothers executed by Taliban for being “supportive” of the British Armed Forces
An Afghan living in Sheffield who saw a man “beheaded” by the Taliban threatened to take the mother of his child’s head “off” and “carry” it around, a court heard.
The grisly threat was one of a number made by Kiramat Maroofkhali, aged 26, during a long history of abuse against the same woman, which worsened when she became pregnant.
Maroofkhali, who had been diagnosed with “complex trauma” by a GP, came to the UK in 2016 with “help” from the Government, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
His barrister, Matthew Burdon, said Maroofkhali’s two older brothers had been executed by the Taliban for being “supportive” of the British Armed Forces during the war in Afghanistan.
And Maroofkhali was, said Mr Burdon, tortured by the Taliban and witnessed some “extremely unpleasant atrocities” including “a young man being beheaded in his presence”.
Katherine White, prosecuting, described how on October 10 last year Maroofkhali was living with his long-suffering partner despite having been handed a 10-year restraining order previously for assaulting her.
During a row he threatened to “pour petrol” on her if she “didn’t shut up”, said Ms White.
She added: “She (the victim) said this was normal behaviour for the defendant.”
Maroofkhali then pursued the complainant as she fled her home, shouting “I will take your head off you s***. I will take your head off, I will carry it,” the court heard.
Later, back at the victim’s home, Maroofkhali stabbed the table with a pair of scissors.
Maroofkhali’s victim, the court heard, had “visions” of her head “on the floor” and had “prepared herself for death” during his abuse.
Ms White told the court that prior to October 10, 2025, Maroofkhali had three previous convictions for offences against the same defendant - including battery when she was 36 weeks pregnant and breaches of restraining orders.
Judge Michael Slater said he was “satisfied” that Maroofkhali’s behaviour had a “lasting and significant effect” on the complainant, adding: “You’ve displayed wilful and continuing disregard for court orders.”
Maroofkhali, of no fixed abode, was jailed for two years and eight months and handed an indefinite restraining order.
He admitted threats to kill, criminal damage and harassment - breach of a restraining order.