Migrant stabs student in random attack 'so he can be deported back to homeland'

25 February 2023 , 17:17

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Rebez Mohammed, 28, was jailed for six years

A young Iraqi man who was smuggled illegally into the UK in a small boat, stabbed a college student in the back in a bid to get himself deported out of Britain, a judge has heard.

The 28-year-old man pounced on his random victim in a park after initially engaging him in conversation about kick-boxing.

Moments later Rebaz Mohammed pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed university student Ellis Wheeler in the back, causing life-threatening injuries.

Mohammed appeared before a judge at Southampton Crown Court following the attack in the city's park, where he was jailed for six years and ordered to serve another four on licence.

Mr Wheeler ran away but lost consciousness, with a friend calling 999 and putting pressure on his wound until officers and paramedics arrived.

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He was taken to hospital and underwent surgery for a collapsed lung and remained under observation for five days.

Mohammed was arrested at the park and later told police he stabbed Mr Wheeler in order to be arrested and deported back home.

The 28-year-old approached Mr Wheeler in Hoglands Park, Southampton, before stabbing him in the back

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said Mohammed knew he had to do something to be deported and had spoken to people who knew the immigration system.

He had previously been cautioned for criminal damage and battery and in May 2022, was jailed for 12 weeks for racially-aggravated harassment and stalking.

Defence barrister Richard Tutt said his client had come to the UK illegally via boat and had been making what efforts he could to be deported but had no work and no money. He was living in an hotel in Bournemouth.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Mr Wheeler's "heroic" friend saved his life by applying pressure to his wound (HAMPSHIRE LIVE/BPM MEDIA)

Mr Tutt said: "He believed, from what he had been told, that he needed to commit an offence that was serious enough. He presents as a very naive person. He has experienced remorse, or at least sorrow."

Sentencing him, Judge Brian Forster said: "When anyone carries out an attack with a knife it is down to chance. This was an indiscriminate attack. Any member of our community could have been the victim.

"You were willing to inflict a serious injury with a weapon to achieve your own end. You could have killed the victim."

Sean McPolin