A 22-year-old man from Peterborough who subjected his girlfriend to a relentless campaign of domestic abuse—including intentional suffocation and public degradation—has been sentenced to five years and eight months in prison.
Tanveer Chowdhury, of Desborough Avenue, Stanground, was convicted at Cambridge Crown Court of multiple offences after a terrifying 90-minute attack last summer exposed a long-running pattern of coercive control, violence, and humiliation.
‘Controlled Her Life to the Point of Misery’
The court heard that on 27 July 2024, after taunting his partner via text that he was with another woman, Chowdhury launched a prolonged and brutal assault at her home in Cambourne, near Cambridge.
He stripped and beat her in front of two friends, showed them an intimate video, and repeatedly punched, kicked, and verbally abused her, dragging her around the house and tearing out clumps of her hair. She was left bruised, bleeding, and terrified.
His two friends attempted to intervene but were unable to stop the attack.
History of Abuse
The victim, who later contacted police, disclosed that Chowdhury had become increasingly violent and controlling after moving in with her in March 2024. He had:
- Forced her into the bathroom during arguments and pinned her to the floor
- Held her head under bathwater on two occasions, once saying he “didn’t care” if he killed her
- Isolated her from friends by seizing her phone and impersonating her
- Demanded full control over her movements
Court Convictions and Sentencing
In April 2025, Chowdhury was found guilty of:
- Two counts of intentional suffocation
- Controlling and coercive behaviour
- Sharing intimate material to cause alarm
He also pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm (ABH) and assault by beating.
On Thursday, 12 June, Judge Andrew Hurst handed down a five-year, eight-month sentence and imposed an indefinite restraining order.
“You controlled her life to the point of misery,” said Judge Hurst.
“You degraded her in front of others. You barred her from leaving her own home. The intentional suffocation offences are a real and particular concern, showing a highly dangerous attitude towards women.”
Police Praise Victim’s Bravery
Detective Constable Isobel Clegg said:
“Chowdhury subjected the victim to repeated and prolonged assaults. I want to praise her tremendous bravery in coming forward and supporting this investigation.”
How to Get Help
If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
You can also use the Clare’s Law scheme to check whether a partner has a history of abuse. Visit the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website for more details.
