WARNING – GRAPHIC IMAGES. Tracy McHarg has waived her right to automatic anonymity to reveal the extent of the physical and emotional damage caused by Kais Isawi
Kais Isawi, 28 and of Tillotson Close in Dingle, jailed for eight years for assault and rape by oral penetration(Image: Merseyside Police)
A woman was locked in her abusive partner’s house for three days after he threatened to gouge out her eyes. Tracy McHarg, 49, told the ECHO that she now never leaves the house and can’t see herself trusting anyone else in a relationship for the foreseeable future because of the sustained physical and emotional abuse perpetrated by Kais Isawi.
Ms McHarg, who has bravely waived her right to lifelong anonymity to tell her story, met Isawi on social media before meeting face-to-face at a New Year’s Eve event in 2024. The pair started a relationship and within a matter of months the mum had moved from Hertfordshire to Liverpool to live with Isawi.
But she told the ECHO that 28-year-old Isawi “soon started being really horrible” and would abuse her by calling her a slag. He also almost immediately began to emotionally isolate her from her loved ones.
She said: “It started as soon as I went to Liverpool. He was horrible. He cut me off from people including my family. He took my phone off me and said some vile things about my family.”
The mum and nan became unsettled by his behaviour and left Liverpool to move back home. But as soon as she left she was bombarded with calls and messages from Isawi – and days later he turned up at her home and pleaded for her to return with him to the north west.
Ms McHarg told Isawi’s trial that she returned with him to Liverpool despite the wishes of her family because she loved him. She travelled back to Liverpool with Isawi on May 18 last year.
Injuries sustained by Tracy McHarg after she was assaulted by Kais Isawi (Image: Tracy McHarg)
But by the following evening Isawi embarked on a sustained and escalated assault on the terrified mum. She later told police that Isawi had grabbed her by her neck, pushed her into a wall and repeatedly called her names.
He then threw her onto the bed, jumped on top of her and dragged her by her hair before pinning her down and threatening to horrifically disfigure her. Ms McHarg said: “He tried to take my eyes,” alluding to the fact Isawi pressed his fingers into them.
She told the ECHO she was left with swelling to her eyes and forehead after Isawi headbutted her. The lawyer who prosecuted Isawi at Liverpool Crown Court said: “That violence left her bruised, in pain and frightened.”
Ms McHarg said her abuser “blocked me from leaving, locking me in the house and taking my phone so I couldn’t get any help”. The following morning, despite initially being calmer, Isawi refused to allow his victim to close the bathroom door while she showered.
Isawi’s trial heard he then threw Ms McHarg onto the bed and orally raped her. The terrified victim said she felt she had no option but comply given the physical assault from the previous.
She said she only managed to escape after she used the pretext of needing to go to the toilet to escape the situation. She wrapped herself in a towel and ran outside, but was eventually coaxed back in by Isawi because she was phoneless and barefoot.
Injuries sustained by Tracy McHarg after she was assaulted by Kais Isawi (Image: Tracy McHarg)
She was kept inside his house for the next three days where he continued to threaten her, control her phone and her medication. Eventually she managed to escape when Isawi allowed her to travel home to see her grandson, who she had found out was ill.
Ms McHarg said: “I just knew I had to get out.” It was only when she was on the train back to Hertfordshire that she felt safe enough to phone a friend and tell her what had happened. Merseyside Police officers arrested Isawi on the same day.
But his victim had to relive the trauma he put her through after he pleaded not guilty to two offences – section 47 assault and rape by oral penetration.
Ms McHarg said: “It was devastating when he pleaded not guilty and I had to go to court. I have never been in a court before so it was a horrible experience. He was a bit of an idiot during the trial. The judge had to send the jury out to speak to him. He was just shaking his head, making hand gestures. He got told off for it.”
The jury saw through Isawi’s lies and he was convicted on both counts on November 24 last year. He returned to Liverpool Crown Court to be sentenced. Judge Ian Harris sentenced Isawi, of Tillotson Close in Dingle, to eight years in prison. Isawi will also remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
The impact of the trauma still continues. She told the ECHO: “I can’t go out. He was my first relationship in 10 years. It will be a long time before I consider trusting someone else again. I just have to concentrate on my therapy and get myself better. I’m from a strong Scottish family, so I’ve got a good support network around me.”