A MAN who abused and insulted his elderly father, threatening him with his own crutch and putting a belt round his neck, has been sentenced to a community order. 

Footage of Mohammed Sharif manhandling and shouting insults at his frail elderly victim was played at Bradford Crown Court today. 

Sharif, 54, of Huddersfield Road, Halifax, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to twice assaulting his father and a single offence of ill-treatment of a person lacking mental capacity, between February 26 and March 21. 

Prosecutor Adam Walker said Sharif was seen on CCTV shouting at his victim in Punjabi. He forcibly grabbed him and shoved him back in his chair and then out of the bedroom door. 

There was ‘prolonged berating’ in which the elderly man was pushed and upsetting and cruel comments were directed at him. 

Sharif was filmed on bedroom CCTV holding his father’s crutch above his head as if to hit him with it, pushing him and then picking up a belt and putting it round his neck. 

In mitigation, Imran Majid said Sharif was of previous good character.  

Father and son had been very close and Sharif had tried to deal with everything himself without seeking professional help. 

He had ‘snapped’ and was very ashamed, Mr Majid said. He felt regret and remorse and had admitted his guilt at the first opportunity. 

Sharif recognised there was no excuse for his ‘despicable behaviour.’ 

He had been remanded in HMP Leeds since April and that had been a shock to his system.  

Mr Majid said Sharif’s family had suffered a dramatic impact from his incarceration. His father was missing him and didn’t understand what had happened. 

Judge Colin Burn said the way Sharif behaved was unacceptable and he understood that. 

His family spoke of ‘the downward spiral’ he got into while looking after his father. He lost about five stone in weight while dealing with a series of other problems and this ‘massive responsibility too far.’ 

Sharif needed outside assistance to care for his father. His pride may have prevented him from seeking that before, Judge Burn said. 

The ‘vivid incidents’ caught on camera would be interspersed with loving care, he stated. 

Sharif had now been held in custody for at least the maximum term of imprisonment that the offences of common assault and ill-treatment would carry. 

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity days.