Peterborough, UK – In a disturbing case of domestic abuse, 22-year-old Tamour Nawaz has been sentenced to one year and 30 weeks in prison for subjecting his mother to a campaign of coercive control, intimidation, and violence. The Peterborough Crown Court heard how Nawaz’s relentless demands for food, money, and a phone, coupled with his explosive temper, left his mother living in constant fear.
The court was told how Nawaz used a brick to smash the conservatory windows of the home he shared with his mother, simply because he felt she was ignoring him. In another incident, he threw the dinner she had cooked for him on the floor before demanding she clean it up.
Violent Outbursts
Nawaz’s reign of terror extended to his mother’s private moments, with the court hearing how he would go upstairs while she was trying to sleep, pull the duvet off her, and demand she get up to cook him food. When police attempted to arrest him on June 11, Nawaz lashed out at two officers, kicking them repeatedly and putting one in a headlock before being subdued with PAVA spray.
Coercive Control in Family Relationships
While coercive control is often associated with intimate partner violence, this case highlights the disturbing reality of adult children abusing older family members. As Detective Constable Maisy Napier of Cambridgeshire Police stated, “Coercive control is a criminal offence and we take reports of it seriously. This kind of behaviour has long-lasting effects on victims as well as the impact at the time. This case highlights that coercive and controlling behaviour is exactly that, irrespective of the relationship dynamic it occurs within.”
The UK’s coercive control law, introduced in 2015, acknowledges that coercive control can occur within family relationships and is not exclusive to intimate partners. This recognition is crucial in cases like Nawaz’s, where the victim is a parent being abused by their adult child.
Challenges for Older Victims
Experts note that older victims of abuse by adult children or grandchildren face unique challenges in seeking help. The emotional bonds and memories of the abuser as a child can make it difficult for the victim to acknowledge the harm being done. Additionally, feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame are common, with victims questioning their own parenting and struggling with the idea of their child facing legal consequences.
Support and Empowerment
Advocates stress the importance of validating the feelings of hurt and betrayal experienced by older victims of family violence, emphasizing that the abuse is not their fault. Providing support in negotiating the complex dynamics of these relationships, and empowering victims to prioritize their own safety and well-being, is crucial.
Cambridgeshire Police encourage anyone experiencing domestic abuse to come forward, regardless of the relationship with the abuser. The bravery of victims who come forward, like Nawaz’s mother, is instrumental in bringing perpetrators to justice and shedding light on the often hidden reality of family violence.
Top image: Main – victim of elder abuse. Source: AimPix / Adobe Stock. Inset: Tamour Nawaz. Source: Cambridgeshire Police.
