Radford man jailed for 16 months for assault after fire scare

RADFORD MAN JAILED FOR 16 MONTHS FOR ASSAULT AFTER FIRE SCARE

A Nottingham father-of-five who was initially charged with attempting to murder his wife by setting fire to their home has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for assault.

Nottingham Crown Court was told how Monu Miah, 69, of Holden Street, Radford, 'ragged' his partner of 45 years by pulling her hair during an argument at their residence, before a fire broke out.

However, the investigation into the fire's cause revealed that there was no evidence Miah had started the blaze deliberately.

As a result, the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to a lesser charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The judge, James Sampson, described the assault as particularly serious, involving punches, hitting, pulling hair, and throwing petrol, although it was unclear how the fire started.

Neighbors reported the fire at the Holden Street address on January 10, and the victim was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

The victim recounted how Miah came into a room holding a petrol can, screaming about their children, waving his arms, and asking him not to hit her.

She ran into the bathroom with him following her, continuing to assault her, grabbing her hair, and throwing petrol around.

Miah told police they were arguing and pushing each other, with petrol 'going everywhere', although he claimed it was diesel and denied the attempted murder charge.

Miah has been in custody since February 1, serving an 18-month sentence, and was also handed a five-year restraining order.