WHEN charity worker Mohamed Boubbane began to throttle his long-term partner in Oxford’s Westgate Shopping Centre, he probably didn’t expect a Good Samaritan to step in.

Especially one in the form of off-duty police officer Brendan O’Dowda, the former chief of Oxford police and father of rising Oxford United starlet Callum O’Dowda.

Mr O’Dowda stopped the attack on Luceila Fernandes and it was his evidence that landed Boubbane in the dock at Oxford Magistrates’ Court because Miss Fernandes didn’t support the prosecution.

Boubbane admitted assault by beating on Thursday.

Sarah Mackay, prosecuting, said Mr O’Dowda was drawn by “raised voices” at the shopping centre on June 22.

Boubbane – who works at city homeless charity Crisis Skylight – had her “pinned against a door and he had both his hands around her neck”.

Mrs Mackay said: “He describes her as crying and very distressed.”

Boubbane appeared to loosen his grip and briefly walk away but turned back and “continued to shout and grabbed her neck again”.

Mr O’Dowda reported hearing him say: “I followed you, I saw you talk to him.” She replied that she had gone to meet her mother.

Boubbane then took hold of her left arm and turned her away from the shopping centre, at which point Mr O’Dowda identified himself, Mrs Mackay said.

She added: “The defendant released his grip on her and said ‘I’m sorry, I just lost it’.”

But Miss Fernandes — who suffered a bleeding scratch down her neck — was “not supportive of the prosecution” and said it was “just a silly incident” Mrs Mackay said.

She added: “However, he was arrested based on what the officer had observed. Clearly it was assault.”

Yesterday the ex-Oxford commander — who now heads Thames Valley Police’s covert operations unit — said: “Whether on duty or off-duty, officers have a duty to protect people.”

He added he was “in the right place at the right time”.

Boubbane, of Brize Norton Road, Carterton, had a previous caution for a domestic matter in May 2009, magistrates were told.

Ronan McCann, defending, said his client had “long-standing ties with the community” and was deeply remorseful. He requested the case be adjourned for five instead of the usual three weeks before sentence so Boubbane could spend Ramadan in his native Morroco. He was bailed to return for sentencing on August 15.

Mr O’Dowda — who joined the force aged 16 in 1982 — lives in Oxford and has won several commendations.