Driver jailed for crowbar attack after mowing down stranger at petrol station

Police said the victim may not have survived the ‘unrelenting’ onslaught if it was not for the brave actions of members of the public.

A man who mowed down a stranger at a petrol station and then attacked him with a crowbar has been jailed for four years.

Aqeel Ahmed, 24, targeted his victim after a confrontation in the car park of the premises in Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester.

He returned to his VW Touran car and sped back into the petrol station where he ploughed into the man who flew from his bonnet onto a parked vehicle. The incident was captured on CCTV.

Ahmed then leapt out and stamped on his victim’s head three times while he lay unconscious on the floor.

The driver of the parked vehicle intervened and restrained Ahmed but the defendant broke free and struck his victim several times with a crowbar.

Police said the victim may not have survived the “unrelenting” onslaught if it was not for the brave actions of the other motorist and also members of the public who swiftly raised the alarm.

Ahmed, of Queensgate, Bolton, was arrested at the scene on February 25 and his victim was treated in hospital for a laceration to the scalp.

He was sentenced on Thursday at Manchester Crown Court after admitting to attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, dangerous driving and drink-driving, Greater Manchester Police said.

Detective Constable Terry Macmillan said: “This was an unrelenting attack on a man who Ahmed didn’t even know, that could have caused life threatening injuries.

“If it wasn’t for the bravery of the man who restrained Ahmed and other members of the public who quickly called police, his victim may not have survived.

“I would like to thank them for their quick-thinking actions that day.

“Ahmed’s attack was senseless and brutal but thankfully CCTV footage of the events leading up to and after the assault has significantly helped to put this violent man behind bars.”