Man bludgeoned Stratford Road shop customer's head with hammer then fled to Pakistan - Birmingham Live

A man has been jailed for 21 years after bludgeoning a shop customer in the head with a hammer. Abdul Wahab spotted the victim by chance at a store in Stratford Road, Sparkhill on February 21 this year.

The 29-year-old was a passenger in a Fiat Panda which circled around and parked nearby. Wahab got out holding a hammer and entered the shop to attack the victim in a brutal six-second assault.

He then fled the scene and flew to Pakistan only to be arrested upon his return to the UK around a month later. Wahab, Castleford Road, Sparkhill admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon but was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury.

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He did not give evidence but comments he made to the police and a probation officer suggested the attack was committed out of some sort of 'revenge'. Wahab was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, October 25 when was told he will serve two thirds of the 21-year term in custody before release.

Judge Peter Carr, passing sentence, said: "On the day in question you left your home and you were the passenger in a Fiat Panda. When the car got to the shop where (the victim) was a customer it is a reasonable inference on the evidence you saw him and decided to attack him.

"The Fiat Panda circled around and could be seen on CCTV circling around in Stratford Road in the direction of the shop. You got out of the Panda which was parked in a road off Stratford Road, close by.

"You had with you a hammer. You ran into the shop and began to attack him. There was CCTV from inside the shop. From that could be seen there were what could be described has heavy blows raining down on him.

"Six or seven blows, most if not all while he was defenceless on the ground and to a particularly vulnerable part of the body. You ran off, went home, collected your belongings and proceeded to purchase a ticket to Pakistan."

The victim was able to drive himself to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he remained for over a month. He had metal plates inserted into his skull and jaw.

He also suffered bleeding on the brain and swelling which could have been fatal. He was discharged on March 25, a day before Wahab was arrested upon his voluntary return to the UK.

Judge Carr said: "The motive of the attack was not clear on the evidence. Bearing in mind what was said in your pre-sentence report from the allegations made by you to a probation officer, and allegations made by you in interview, if true this was a revenge attack by you on him, You chose not to explain those assertions or have them tested by giving evidence."

Balbir Singh, defending, stated Wahab was not the sort of person who 'generally goes out and commits violence'. He told the court he was using his time in prison 'constructively' by registering for an Open University course.