I WAS disgusted when I read in the Guardian about Cllr Imran Abrahim beating his wife (Guardian, March 27).

As a resident in his ward, I have come across him a few times and he was always charming.

If I had known what was going on in his home, I would have been anything but charming to him.

Men who hit or even psychologically abuse women are beneath contempt because, physically, they are virtually always the stronger of the two (though of course it is not acceptable for women to beat men either).

In this case, Cllr Abrahim's wife was young, a stranger in this country and particularly vulnerable because of her situation. I am so glad that he was caught in the end.

As to the question of him remaining a councillor, I think he should automatically be barred, at least for several years.

If he had been charged with a driving offence that did not hurt anyone else or maybe even did a bit of minor shoplifting, I suppose it could be regarded as part of his private life.

But violent assault is not a private matter.

The fact that the victim is your wife makes no difference. Would the council's code of conduct treat a similar attack on a member of the public as a private matter?

J Poulter, Lea Bridge Road.