Saturday 14 May 2022 01:28 PM Afghan asylum seeker who battered three women with hammer begins 18-year jail ... trends now

An Afghan asylum seeker who attacked three women with a hammer after police did not find him a home has been jailed for 18 years.

Morteza Ahmadi, 39, went on a crime spree in London's West End, on October 1 when he attacked five people, sexually assaulting two of them.

Ahmadi pleaded guilty to two counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm with, two counts of sexual assault and having an offensive weapon in February this year.

Ahmadi groped the first woman outside Hamley's on Regent Street before hitting her over the head with a hammer.

Following this attack, he continued on Regent Street, stopped outside the Levi's store and struck Darya Sayganoza on her face.

Making his way off once again, he walked to the Leicester Arms pub on Glasshouse Street and slapped the bottom of a woman standing outside with her friends.

Inside the pub, he bought himself a pint before joining a couple, Nikki Hill and Richard Felton, at a table.

After five minutes, 'seemingly at random', Ahmadi hit Ms Hill over the head with a hammer, knocking her to the floor, before then striking Mr Felton three times.

CCTV of the attack inside the Leicester Arms was played in which the courtroom saw Ms Hill be knocked off her stool before her partner gathered her up as Ahmadi walked out the pub.

Ahmadi is said to have been to the UK twice before, having been deported in 2013 and 2020. 

Judge Philip Bartle, QC, said: 'These offences reflect a series of unprovoked, violent attacks on random pedestrians and pub goers on and around Regent Street on the evening of the 1st of October 2021.

'All but one of the victims have read out their victim impact statement in court today.

'What is crystal clear from their statements is the profound effect that the defendant's actions have had on them.

'They were out late on a Saturday night in the West End enjoying themselves while the defendant was roaming around with a weapon looking for people to attack with it.'

The judge added that Ahmadi was 'dangerous' and would therefore serve an extended sentence.

He was jailed for 18 years and 10 months.

Ahmadi, assisted by a Farsi interpreter, showed no emotion throughout the hearing.

Of the first attack, prosecutor Vincent Scully said: 'She and her partner.....were walking toward Oxford Circus tube station having been out for dinner.

'They walked past a man who slapped [the woman's] buttocks hard.

'She turned around to confront him at which he stopped, faced her and slowly removed his rucksack.

'He then struck her on the side of the head with a hammer.'

Mr Scully told the court this first victim suffered a split ear and a fracture at the base of her skull and continues to live with reduced hearing and tinnitus.

In her impact statement she said she chased after Ahmadi to confront him about slapping her bottom.

'He started shuffling, taking a small step back...shifting one way and the other.

'I didn't understand at the time why he was behaving like this, why was he shuffling around in little steps.

'The last thing I remember is watching him unzip his bag very very slowly.

'I now understand exactly what he was doing. He was taking the time to position himself.

'He was acutely looking at my face, smiling, shifting around to get himself in the right position to hit me.

'It was calculated, it was calm, he smiled while he positioned himself.

'I don't remember being hit but I remember him smiling.'

She said an 'uncontrollable fear' now exists inside her.

'I am never too far from the feeling of terror in the pit of my stomach.'

Mr Scully said that Ms Sayganoza had been walking down Regent Street while on her phone.

'She felt what she perceived to be a slap to her face.

'She initially didn't think very much of it but then realised she was bleeding.'

Ms Sayganoza went to St Thomas' Hospital in Southwark, London, to be treated for a cut above her right eyebrow and bruising.

In the witness box, she said: 'If this guy had hit me in another way...I could have been dead.'

Mr Scully then detailed the incidents at the Leicester Arms pub.

He said Ahmadi slapped the bottom of a woman who had been standing outside.

'She shouted something like, 'What the f*** are you doing?' and he continued walking.'

The prosecutor went on to say that Ahmadi bought a drink inside and sat with couple Ms Hill and Mr Felton.

'He sat sipping his pint for a few minutes and then reached into his bag, took out the hammer and started hitting Ms Hill with it.

'One heavy blow landed on her head causing her to fall to the floor and Mr Felton was then hit three times.