Taxi driver who whipped wife with belt and asked 'are you abiding by my rule' during abusive Islamic marriage is spared jail

By CLAIRE DUFFIN, SENIOR REPORTER Published: 11:21, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 11:22, 3 August 2026 A taxi driver who whipped his wife with a belt while asking her 'are you abiding by my rule' has been spared jail.  Sorif Uddin, 28, attacked the woman after they rowed about washing clothes, a court heard.  She managed to film him lashing her and later captured footage of her topless husband strangling her for several seconds. Uddin had regularly verbally abused her throughout their relatively short Islamic marriage, including calling her a 'mistake' and a 'street girl' who was not good enough for him, Birmingham Crown Court heard.  Uddin, of Lozells, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and strangulation. But he was spared jail and instead handed a two-year sentence, suspended for three years, after a judge said imprisonment would not address his underlying issues and he could be rehabilitated outside jail instead. He also was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and complete a 'skills for relationships toolkit'. Uddin, who has since lost his job as a taxi driver, was also banned from contacting the victim for seven years by a restraining order. Sorif Uddin, 28, pictured at court, attacked the woman after they rowed about washing clothes The court heard the couple met over Instagram in 2019 but the victim, who was living in Bangladesh, initially married another man by arrangement of her father. Her first marriage ended in divorce within months in 2022 and she later renewed her relationship with Uddin. The pair had an Islamic marriage in August 2023. Madhu Rai, prosecuting, said: 'Soon after the wedding Mr Uddin started being verbally abusive towards her and months later physically assaulted her on two separate occasions.' The first incident took place in January 2024 when they argued after Uddin told his wife she had to clean her clothes in the bath because her family had not bought them a washing machine. Ms Rai said: 'During the incident he suddenly took a belt out of his trousers lying nearby and with some force started to whip her with the belt while also verbally abusing her.' The victim suffered defensive injuries to her hands from the attack, some of which were recorded on her phone and played to the court. Uddin's words to his wife were translated to say: 'Are you abiding by my rule? Hey daughter of animal are you abiding by my rule?' The victim briefly went to stay with relatives but returned to her husband and he verbally abused her again the same day. Ms Rai said: 'He told her she had no shame, no-one wanted her.  'Throughout their marriage he frequently shouted at her saying he married a street girl and she was not good enough for him.' In a second episode of violence later in 2024, Uddin referred to his wife as 'his mistake'. Ms Rai told the court: 'Footage captures the defendant going towards her and then suddenly grabbing her throat very tightly. 'She describes the defendant's grip as being very strong. She was struggling to breathe. She told him to let go and he did.' It was estimated the chokehold lasted for at least ten seconds. On October 13 that year the victim managed to dial 999 saying 'help me' and confirming her postcode. Police attended their home in Lozells and no one answered the door, but they forced entry after hearing screaming. The victim was 'hysterical and hyperventilating,' the prosecutor said. She was taken to a bedroom where she disclosed Uddin had assaulted her. He made denials in interview and even claimed his wife had a short temper and was making up complaints for 'legal status in the UK'. In a statement the victim said the abuse had left her feeling suicidal, depressed and anxious. She described having sleepless nights and heart palpitations at reliving the violence.  Bethany Baggaley, in mitigation, said he felt ashamed and remorseful. She said he had since lost his job as a taxi driver due to being unable to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Ms Baggaley said Uddin was 'right at the core' of his family helping to support his mother and sisters, while having his own health difficulties. Judge Stacy Newnham-Payne, passing sentence, told him: 'It's clear the marriage was fraught with difficulties. 'Your offending behaviour was incredibly serious. You would have caused exceptional distress and likely long-lasting consequences. 'I have watched the footage. That was hard watching.'