Repeat Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Prison

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney

Press Release
March 6, 2023

A repeat domestic abuser from New Bedford who violently attacked and strangled his girlfriend in June 2021 was sentenced to serve four years in state prison last Friday in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Abdul Yakubu, 36, pled guilty to indictments charging him with Strangulation, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, and Domestic Assault and Battery-Subsequent offense.

On June 30, 2021, New Bedford Police responded to a 911 call from the victim’s Belleville Avenue neighbor.  When they arrived, the found the female victim to have bruising on her cheeks, eyelids, forehead and neck. Police also noted a broken doorframe when they entered the apartment.

The victim stated that the defendant, who had been her boyfriend for about three weeks, pulled her by the hair, strangled her with his hands and repeatedly punched her in the face.  After throwing her to the floor and kicking her, the defendant left the apartment.  Shortly thereafter, he kicked in the front door and re-entered the apartment to assault her again by pushing her on the bed and strangling her.

The defendant has served multiple jail and prison sentences for domestic violence in the past and has had at least eight restraining orders filed against him by at least three separate victims.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney Cahill and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Raffi Yessayan.  The defendant was also placed on supervised probation for an additional three years.

“This defendant has a history of serious violence against women and has served already served prison time. He is clearly a danger to women and needs to be kept off the streets to protect them,” District Attorney Quinn said.

Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

774-292-9576