Victim of Smethwick scuffle lands stab wound
A victim attacked during a scuffle in a street was left nursing an inch-long stab wound, a court has heard.
Adil Hakim was wounded when foe Tousif Khan jumped out of his car, pulling out the blade and striking his victim during the scrap.
Criminal Khan had claimed he was threatened with the knife through the car window but Judge Barry Berlin rejected his tale and jailed the defendant for 13 months.
Co-accused Mohammed Miah avoided an immediate prison-term and was instead handed a five-month sentence, suspended for two years, for his part in the Smethwick brawl.
A police officer was approaching traffic lights in Lewisham Road, Smethwick when he spotted a white Ford Fiesta parked at a junction at about 4.10pm on July 15 last year.
He noticed Khan jabbing a large knife towards Mr Hakim, while co-defendant Miah punched Amaan Barbhuiya to the head, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
Khan continued to point the weapon towards his victim as Miah thumped Mr Barbhuiya with clenched fists, grabbing his jacket to stop him fleeing.
The officer then turned on his vehicle's blue lights, bringing the scuffle to an end by blocking the Ford Fiesta, prosecutor Geoffrey Dann said on Tuesday.
He told the defendants they were under arrest before one of the pair pointed towards a drain, where the knife handle discarded by Khan was uncovered.
Mr Barbhuiya suffered swelling and bruising to his eye, while Mr Hakim was left with the stab wound, but both declined to make a complaint to the police
The court was told Khan, who had a long-running feud with the victims, was on his way to work with Miah when Mr Hakim and Mr Barbhuiya strolled towards the Ford Fiesta from the other side of the road.
Khan, 21, claimed one of the pair dropped the knife in the car before the defendant grabbed it to scare them away.
But Judge Berlin said Khan had lied on oath, ruling 'the aggressor' had the knife with him in the car.
Mr Mahan Manu, defending 20-year-old Miah, said the victims were 'aggressive' when they strolled towards the car, adding: "They could have continued on their journey but they have chosen to cross over [the road]."
Miah, who is a carer for his grandmother, intended to 'diffuse' the situation but struck out at one of the victims, and now regrets his actions, the barrister claimed.
Khan, of Frobisher Way, Smethwick, admitted unlawful wounding, possession of a bladed article and battery, while Miah, of Doulton Drive, Smethwick, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Miah was also ordered to take part in 100hours unpaid work, made subject to a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a three-month curfew.
