Man charged over alleged assault of Muslim female in Co-op car park

The Independent, ITV News and the Milton Keynes Citizen report that the man arrested for allegedly attacking a Somali Muslim woman in a supermarket car park last August, causing her to lose her unborn twins, has been charged.

David Gallacher, 37, has been charged with one count of assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of assault by beating and two counts of racially/religiously aggravated assault.

The charges relate to the attack which occurred on 6 August 2016 outside a Co-op on Water Eaton Road in Bletchley, where the 34-year-old female victim and her 40-year-old husband were allegedly assaulted and racially abused.

According to reports from September, the woman was racially abused and “kicked to the ground” by the man who had followed her to her car. Witness Marian Scott told The Times the victim “was lying on the floor but screaming”. 

Another witness, Visakan Nathan, said “I heard the noise of a lady screaming. She was screaming ‘help me, help me’. This guy was attacking the lady — he was very aggressive. He was kicking and pushing her.”

The Independent states the victim was unaware of her pregnant state when the incident happened. She was notified she was expecting twins when she was being treated for her injuries with doctors telling her days later that such was no longer the case.

The claim conflicts with a report from last September when the victim’s husband said “My wife begged the man not to hurt the baby. She cried ‘Please, no, I’m pregnant’ four or five times. But he did not listen. The baby died.”

The couple’s family criticised Thames Valley Police for the near six-week delay between the incident happening and the police launching an appeal to find the attacker. A relative said at the time, “We went to see police to ask why they were not doing anything. This family were being neglected by them. The man who did this killed their baby.”

Local councillor Mohammed Khan said that he had been helping the family relocate after they were left ‘traumatised’ by the experience. He said, “They worry about the children, they worry the attacker can come to the house and do other things.”

It has been reported that the family have since moved home.

ITV News reports on the impact on the family with the victim’s husband having to cease work and relinquish his job as a taxi driver to “reassure his traumatised wife”.

A rally organised by Stand Up To Racism, Milton Keynes Bangladeshi Association and other local organisations was held in Milton Keynes town centre on 24 September 2016 to show solidarity with the victims.

This week, Gallacher was charged in relation to the alleged offences. He has also been charged with three counts of assaulting a constable in the execution of his/her duty. This relates to an incident on 14 September when officers attempted to arrest him following the CCTV appeal in relation to the attack. 

Gallacher was granted bail and is set to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on 14 March.