Terrifying South Yorkshire man referred to sharpshooters as he threatened to kill his ex-wife

Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 23 how Asaf Ali, aged 35, of Moorgate Road, Rotherham, abused and shouted at his ex-wife, repeatedly phoned her, followed her in a car and threatened to kill her and her mother in Pakistan.

Hannah Walker, prosecuting, said: “The reason for the breakdown was to do with drug and alcohol abuse and that’s born out by the defendant’s record.”

Ms Walker added threats to kill were made as well as a reference to sharpshooters in Birmingham and there were calls to Pakistan in relation to a threat to kill the complainant’s mother.

Ali initially visited his ex-wife at her work in Sheffield, according to Ms Walker, and he shouted at her and followed her in a car despite being banned from driving.

Ms Walker said subsequently Ali breached police bail conditions when the complainant received 20 calls to her mobile phone and eight calls to her work landline and he insulted her and there were threats to kill and a reference was made to sharpshooters in Birmingham.

Ms Walker added calls were also made to Pakistan and threats were made to kill the complainant’s mother which were followed by further insulting calls to the complainant.

Judge Sarah Wright pointed out serious distress had been caused to the complainant to the extent she was so in fear for her life she became concerned about who would look after her children.

Ali, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to harassment by putting the complainant in in fear of violence during September, 2020.

Ian West, defending, said: “He’s clearly immature in attitude and behaviour and that is aggravated by a life of alcohol abuse to the extent that his antecedent record is nearly all alcohol-related.”

Mr West added the period of offending was over 12 days and there has been no further contact since the defendant has been remanded in custody for the last five months.

Judge Wright told Ali his behaviour had left the complainant terrified.

She sentenced Ali to 21 months of custody and imposed a five-year restraining order.

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