A Birmingham man, Abdul Wahab, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after carrying out a violent hammer attack on a customer in a Sparkhill shop before attempting to evade justice by fleeing the country.
The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered life-threatening injuries, including brain bleeding and severe swelling, and required metal plates in his skull and jaw following the six-second assault at a store on Stratford Road on 21 February.
Wahab, aged 29 and from Castleford Road, was convicted of attempted murder by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court on 25 October, having previously admitted to grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.
CCTV footage played a crucial role in the investigation, capturing Wahab’s brutal attack on the unsuspecting customer as well as his disposal of the hammer in a nearby park lake. Shortly after the attack, Wahab was seen on CCTV at Heathrow Airport, where he boarded a flight to Abu Dhabi in an attempt to escape prosecution. However, upon his return to the UK on 26 March, Wahab was arrested at the airport.
DC Sam Higginson of the Force CID’s Complex Investigation Team commented on the severity of the case, highlighting the trauma inflicted upon the victim and the determination shown by the police to bring Wahab to justice.
“This sentence is a clear warning to anyone considering violent acts of this nature. We will pursue you, we will secure a conviction, and you will face the consequences of your actions,” he said.
The victim endured a month-long hospital stay due to his injuries, marking this as one of the city’s most shocking attacks in recent months.