Exclusive:'Pure evil' man who abused and assaulted women is jailed as judge brands him as 'arrogant'

An “arrogant” abuser who assaulted and manipulated women has been thrown behind bars.

Mahin Miah, 24 from Cornwall Road, Fratton, was sentenced on Thursday, July 30 at Portsmouth Crown Court for crimes of controlling or coercive behaviour, actual bodily harm, assault, sexual assault and criminal damage. In May this year, the defendant was found guilty of the first two offences in Portsmouth, while the other crimes relate to a case heard at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Both of Miah’s victims, one of whom has spoken to The News about her experiences, have a life-long right to anonymity.

Laura Deuxberry, prosecuting, told the court that Miah’s behaviour against a woman in Portsmouth included threats of violence, constant belittling, demanding his victim showed him things like bank statements, and cutting her off from family and friends.

In October last year, an argument with his victim in Portsmouth city centre continued in an Uber, and later in her home, where Miah “grabbed her, and forced her against the door with significant force”, Ms Deuxberry said, adding that the woman was left with major bruising on her arms. She phoned the police later that same day.

Via written statements, the defendant’s two victims told the court they have both suffered physical and mental abuse at his hands, leaving them emotionally scarred and needing regular therapy sessions.

Edward Armitage, representing Miah, said: “Not to diminish what’s gone on, but I submit that this isn’t an instance of multiple methods of controlling or coercive behaviour. It can be split into two categories - violence, or threat of violence, and isolation.

“He’s never been in court before, comes across as a well-mannered, and felt shame for why he’s here today. He wants to say sorry to his victims.”

Sentencing Miah, Judge James Newton-Price told the defendant he was “arrogant” and had a “unwarranted high opinion” of himself.

He said: “You constantly argued about petty things and became aggressive - slapping, pushing and grabbing women, making threats of rape, belittling and isolating.

“You later denied your behaviour was as bad as they said it was, and blamed the indictments on your victims. You have a complete disregard for the welfare and rights of others.

“You are arrogant, and have an unwarranted high opinion of yourself. The way you treat women needs to change - it’s a worrying pattern, and you need to break out of it.”

For the offences in Bournemouth, Miah was sentenced to 12 months in prison; for the Portsmouth convictions, he was also sentenced to 12 months in custody. These will be served consecutively, totalling 24 months behind bars. The defendant has already been in prison for the past nine months, and this time will be taken off his sentence.

Speaking about her experiences to The News, one of his vicitms said: “When it was happening, I could see it in his eyes - how dangerous he was, and how frightened I was. The bottom line is that he’s just pure evil.

“[The trial] was horrible. Seeing the photos again of my bruises, reliving the experience, it was really tough. It was definitely a relief just knowing that he was found guilty.”