MANCHESTER: The man who delivered the blows with the axe – Mohammed Sajid of Moss Cottage, Kings Road, Rochdale – was sentenced on Friday (October 18) to 18 years in prison. He was found guilty of attempted murder following a four week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
According to Greater Manchester Police, on 17 October 2017, two workmen were travelling on Church Road in Rochdale when they came across Habibur Rahman launching a furious tirade at a woman sat in a stationary Citroen.
After realising that the two men were watching, Habibur Rahman approached their car and began hurling abuse at them too before leaning over to touch the vehicle, prompting one of them to get out and push him away.
At this point Habib started making threats and pulled out his phone, claiming that the man would ‘regret it’ as this was ‘his area’ and he should ‘just wait and see’.
After becoming increasingly concerned by the threats, the men drove away but heard Habib shout after them “I’m gonna get my boys down”.
A short time later, the men were packing up their tools at a nearby worksite, along with two other colleagues, when their car was blocked in by a Vauxhall Zafira. Habib emerged from the car and began walking towards the four men shouting “You’re going to get it”.
Two other vehicles then pulled up and a large group of men armed with an axe, machete and a claw hammer emerged and made a beeline for the intended targets.
As they closed in on the workmen, Habib punched the man he had been involved in the original confrontation with, cueing the start of the attack.
Once the assault had begun, Sajid approached one of the two men who hadn’t been present during the original confrontation and said to him “You’re going to get stabbed bro” whilst wielding an axe.
He swung the axe, striking the victim in the ribs, instantly breaking them and puncturing one of his lungs. He then lifted the weapon high into the air and brought it down in the direction of the victim’s head but the victim put his arm up to protect himself.
Unfortunately the axe came down with such force that it almost chopped his hand off, leaving him with life changing injuries.
Speaking after the sentencing, Superintendent Richard Hunt of GMP’s Rochdale District, said: “There are not many fitting words to describe this attack but two that spring to mind are disgusting and brutal.The incident itself is unbelievable but the fact that it stemmed from such a minor confrontation is staggering”.
The full breakdown
of the sentences passed is:
•Mohammed Sajid of Moss Cottage, Kings Road, Rochdale, was sentenced to 18
years in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent
disorder and section 18 wounding with intent to commit.
•Arslan Ali of Louise Gardens, Rochdale was sentenced to 4 years in prison
after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
•Zillur Rahman of Milnrow Road, Rochdale was sentenced to 3 years in prison
after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.
•Habibur Rahman of Milnrow Road, Rochdale was sentenced to 4 and a half years
in prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to commit violent disorder,
section 47 assault and ocssioning actual bodily harm.