A FATHER-of-eight attacked his estranged wife with a shoe as she cradled a baby in her arms, a court heard.

Burnley magistrates were told how schizophrenic Mahmud Ali, 44, heard voices and believed Ayetera Begum and her family were using magic to hurt him. Mrs Begum had seven stitches to a head wound after the attack by Ali at her home.

Ali, of South Street, Rawtenstall, admitted malicious or unlawful wounding on April 26. He was conditionally bailed until July 6, for psychiatric and pre-sentence reports, on condition he lives and sleeps at South Street.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said Ali and his wife had been married for 15 years and lived apart for three. They had made several attempts at reconciliation and had eight children, the youngest being a few months old.

The court was told that 10 days before the attack, Ali, who believed their marriage problems were caused by Mrs Begum's family and had suffered 'ill fortune' because of them, went to try and get back together with his wife, and told her she wasn't to associate with her family.

On April 26, Mrs Begum, 32, was speaking to her brother on the phone when the defendant turned up and began to lose his temper. Ali shouted and swore, took off a shoe and hit her several times with the heel as she sat in a chair.

Mrs Buchanan added that a lady friend of the family went into the back door and took the baby off Mrs Begum, who took shelter at a neighbour's house.

Ali banged and kicked at the door and their neighbour came out to try and calm Ali down, led him to his house and police attended.

When Ali was interviewed, he admitted he had lost his temper and had been shouting in the street.

Asked if he attacked his wife, Ali said: "No comment."

The defendant had no previous convictions.

Bill Berry, defending, said the incident was a domestic one which got "wholly out of hand." Ali had been suffering from psychiatric illness for some time and had been receiving medical help.

Ali believed his wife and family were using magic against him to hurt him.

Mr Berry, who added the defendant had been hearing voices, went on: "That's something he takes very seriously and he believes."

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