Property firm owner jailed after failing to grant wife Jewish religious divorce
Salford resident Alan Moher given 18-month sentence for engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour
The owner of a property company has been jailed for 18 months for engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour after failing to grant his wife a Jewish religious divorce.
Alan Moher, 57, and Caroline Moher, who have three children together, separated in 2016 and divorced in the Family Court.
But Moher did not give her a “Get” – a document that formally recognises the end of marriage in the orthodox Jewish faith – meaning she was unable to remarry, have more children or enter into a relationship with another man.
Ms Moher brought a private prosecution for a charge of controlling or coercive behaviour between January 2016 and January last year in what was described as “a landmark case” by her lawyers.
Moher, from Salford, was due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court last February but changed his plea to guilty.
Anthony Metzer QC, prosecuting, said that Moher has prevented his wife from remarrying by withholding the Get.
He told the court that Moher offered his wife £700,000 in the civil divorce with the Get or £780,000 without it.
He told the court that in August 2015 Ms Moher was “so worn down” by the “psychological and emotional abuse” she had suffered that she attempted suicide.
The court heard that in the process of the attempted suicide, Ms Moher texted her husband to tell him what she had done.
“He replied: ‘What colour do you want your gravestone?’” Mr Metzer said.
On 22 January 2016, the day that Moher received a letter from Ms Moher’s solicitor telling him about the divorce proceedings, he told his wife to “piss off”, and “curl up and die”.
The court also heard that Moher had a previous public order conviction after threatening Ms Moher following a family court hearing in Manchester.
“He shouted abuse at her and told her she was going to get what was coming to her.”
A victim impact statement from Ms Moher was read to the court.
“Imagine being put into a straitjacket, gagged, your hands and feet are tied,” it read.
“You are blindfolded. You are in a cold, dark place. Your only weapon is that you are able to hear. You are dependent on your captor to set you free. That’s how I feel still being married to Alan.”
Jeffrey Israel, defending, said: “My client is a 57-year-old man and aside from a single public order incident I would ask the court to treat him as a man of previous good character.”
The court heard that Mr Moher was entitled to 10% off his sentence due to his guilty plea on the first day of the trial.
Mr Israel asked the court that it be taken into account that the timing of his client’s plea took place after the CPS made a late indication that it would not be taking over the case.
He told the court that his client had asked the CPS if they would take over the case from the private prosecution on February 11 2021.
““It was not until a week or two before the trial that a response was received by the defendant indicating that he would not interfere and that the private prosecution was to continue,” he said.
“So I would ask that you take that into account.”
He asked that the judge also take into account that his client has autism and ADHD.
Judge Martin Beddoe said: “You sought to manipulate and control her all in the knowledge that it would substantially impact her mental health and in some respects also impact her physical health.”
Moher was ordered to pay £11,000 towards the prosecution’s costs.
He admitted one count of coercive control and was jailed for 18 months.
The couple separated in 2016 and a decree nisi was granted by the Family Court the same year but the divorce proceedings were not finalised until 2019.
They remain married under orthodox Jewish law.
After the sentencing, Ms Moher addressed the press outside court.
“My hope is that this case sends clear messages to abusers and their victims”, she said.
“To those who have emotionally coerced and controlled, physically hurt, and dehumanised their spouses – the law will not allow you to get away with your crimes.
“To those victims out there – you are not alone, and justice and humanity are on your side.
“I urge you not to stay silent, but to fight for your freedom.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
