Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahmed Faces Deportation After Violent Attacks in Bournemouth and Cardiff
A Syrian asylum seeker who stabbed two people in separate attacks whilst on the run from police has been sentenced to nine years in prison and now faces automatic deportation after far surpassing the threshold for removal from the UK.
Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahmed, 21, was handed the lengthy sentence at Cardiff Crown Court after carrying out two brutal stabbings five months apart, with Judge Paul Hobson declaring him a danger to the public and warning it was “pure good fortune” that his victims’ injuries were not worse.
The court heard that Al-Ahmed had been due to appear in court in May 2023 for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine but failed to turn up, sparking a manhunt that would see him commit increasingly violent offences whilst evading capture.
First Attack in Bournemouth
On 22 July 2023, whilst on the run from authorities, Al-Ahmed, then 19, travelled from his accommodation in Cardiff to the seaside town of Bournemouth, Dorset. The court heard that a dispute erupted over a watch, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
In broad daylight in Bournemouth town centre, Al-Ahmed and a group of associates chased their victim through the busy streets. The pursuit ended in a vicious assault, with Al-Ahmed stabbing the man several times, including continuing the attack after the victim had fallen to the ground.
Medical professionals who treated the victim told the court he was fortunate not to have suffered “much more serious injuries,” given the ferocity and persistence of the assault. The brazen nature of the attack, carried out in a popular tourist destination during peak summer season, shocked local residents and visitors alike.
Return to Wales and Second Stabbing
Following the Bournemouth attack, Al-Ahmed returned to Wales, where he remained at large for several months. On 15 December 2023, he entered a shop in Cardiff and attempted to use a counterfeit banknote. When the shop worker challenged him about the fake currency and asked him to leave, Al-Ahmed refused.
The situation escalated when the staff member, attempting to defend his premises, chased Al-Ahmed outside wielding a bat. In a chilling turn of events, Al-Ahmed called upon a group of men and returned to confront the shop worker.
The court heard how Al-Ahmed stabbed the shop worker in the abdomen, inflicting an 8cm deep wound that required emergency surgery. The victim provided a harrowing statement to the court, saying: “They surrounded me like a pack of dogs. They left me to die on the roadside. I was terrified.”
The shop worker’s injuries were severe, and prosecutors emphasised that only swift medical intervention prevented a fatal outcome.
Criminal History and Failed Court Appearance
The court was told that Al-Ahmed had been staying in accommodation in Cardiff when he was due to appear in court in May 2023 for possession with intent to supply crack cocaine. His decision to abscond from justice set in motion a chain of events that would culminate in two serious violent offences.
Judge Hobson noted that Al-Ahmed’s decision to go on the run demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the law, stating: “This was a serious example of absconding, by going on to commit serious offences while at large.”
Mental Health and PTSD Claims
During sentencing, defence barrister Mr Grefstad argued that Al-Ahmed suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after fleeing the war in Syria. A psychiatric report submitted to the court suggested that the defendant’s actions during the Cardiff stabbing may have been influenced by his PTSD.
Mr Grefstad told the court: “The Syrian war was incredibly violent. It is accepted that he came to the UK as an asylum seeker and it is likely that he witnessed a number of traumatic incidents.”
The defence argued that the offences “paint a picture of a single chaotic period in this young man’s life,” attempting to contextualise the violence within Al-Ahmed’s traumatic background.
The court heard that Al-Ahmed is reportedly coping well in custody whilst receiving treatment and medication for PTSD. The Bournemouth stabbing was characterised by the defence as “threat driven” and short-lived, though this characterisation was challenged by the prosecution given the sustained nature of the attack.
Judge’s Sentencing Remarks
Judge Paul Hobson delivered a stern rebuke whilst passing sentence, acknowledging Al-Ahmed’s difficult background but prioritising public safety. He stated there was “very high risk of catastrophic injuries” in both offences, emphasising that it was through “pure good fortune” that the outcomes were not fatal.
“You have had a very troubled start in your life. Your experiences in Syria were traumatic. I have sympathy with that but also have to have regard for the safety of the public,” Judge Hobson said.
The judge imposed a nine-year custodial sentence with an extended five-year period on licence, determining that an extended sentence was necessary to protect the public from Al-Ahmed’s violent tendencies.
Charges and Convictions
Al-Ahmed was convicted of:
- Two counts of Section 18 wounding with intent
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm
- Affray
- Possession of a bladed article
- Possession with intent to supply Class A drugs
The accumulation of these serious charges, particularly the two separate incidents of wounding with intent, painted a picture of escalating violence and criminality.
Deportation Proceedings
Under the UK Borders Act 2007, automatic deportation applies to non-British nationals sentenced to at least 12 months’ imprisonment for a criminal offence in the UK. With a nine-year sentence, Al-Ahmed has far exceeded this threshold.
The Home Secretary has a legal duty to deport foreign criminals, and this ‘automatic deportation’ law applies to non-British, non-Irish nationals. Al-Ahmed will be subject to a deportation order requiring him to leave the UK and prohibiting his return once his sentence is served.
Foreign criminals sentenced to more than four years in prison must show “very compelling circumstances” to avoid deportation, a threshold Al-Ahmed is unlikely to meet given the serious nature of his offences and the danger he poses to the public.
Wider Context of Asylum and Crime
The case comes amid ongoing debates about asylum seekers and criminality in the UK. In 2024, 47% of asylum applications were granted at initial decision, not counting withdrawals or administrative outcomes. Syrians were among the nationalities with the highest grant rates, with 98% receiving asylum or other permission to stay after appeal for applications between 2021-2023.
However, Al-Ahmed’s case represents a stark departure from the majority of asylum seekers who integrate peacefully into British society. His violent crimes whilst on the run from justice have resulted in severe consequences both for his victims and his own future in the UK.
Public Safety Concerns
Judge Hobson’s assessment that Al-Ahmed poses a danger to the public was reinforced by the pattern of escalating violence demonstrated across the two incidents. The fact that both attacks involved the use of weapons – particularly the stabbing of the shop worker which left an 8cm deep wound – highlighted the severity of the threat he posed.
The judge’s decision to impose an extended licence period of five years beyond the custodial sentence reflects the ongoing concerns about Al-Ahmed’s potential for violence even after his release from prison.
Impact on Victims
Both victims of Al-Ahmed’s attacks have been left with lasting physical and psychological trauma. The shop worker’s statement to the court, describing how he was left to “die on the roadside” by attackers who “surrounded me like a pack of dogs,” illustrates the terror inflicted by Al-Ahmed’s violence.
Medical evidence presented to the court confirmed that both victims required significant medical intervention, with the Cardiff victim requiring surgery for his abdominal wound. The long-term impact on both men extends beyond their physical injuries to include the psychological trauma of unprovoked violent attacks.
Conclusion
Abdul-Rahman Al-Ahmed’s journey from Syrian asylum seeker to convicted violent criminal serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of choosing a path of crime and violence. Despite arguments about his traumatic background and PTSD, the court prioritised public protection in imposing a lengthy custodial sentence.
With automatic deportation proceedings now inevitable, Al-Ahmed faces removal from the UK upon completion of his sentence, ending any prospect of building a life in Britain. His case underscores the UK’s firm stance on foreign nationals who commit serious crimes, regardless of their asylum status or personal circumstances.
The nine-year sentence, with an additional five years on licence, reflects the gravity of Al-Ahmed’s offences and the need to protect the public from individuals who pose such a significant danger to society.
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