According to a recent court hearing, Rebaz Mohammed, a 28-year-old Iraqi immigrant, stabbed an 18-year-old university student, Ellis Wheeler, because he wanted to be deported from Britain.
The attack occurred in December 2022 when Mohammed lunged at Wheeler with a kitchen knife, puncturing his lung, while he was walking back from the gym in Hoglands Park, Southampton.
Although Wheeler managed to escape, he passed out before being rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery.
The CCTV footage of the incident shows Mohammed approaching Wheeler and asking him if he knew kickboxing before attacking him.
Mohammed was arrested at the scene and later confessed to the police that he had attacked Wheeler to be sent back home to Iraq.
At Southampton Crown Court, Mohammed pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a knife blade.
He was sentenced to six years with a four-year extended license.
The court heard that Mohammed knew he had to do something to be deported and had spoken to people who knew the immigration system.
He had also been cautioned previously for criminal damage and battery and was jailed for 12 weeks for racially-aggravated harassment and stalking in May 2022.
During the sentencing, Judge Brian Forster KC criticized Mohammed for inflicting serious injuries on an innocent victim to achieve his own end.
He commended Wheeler’s friend for possibly saving his life and awarded him £250. The victim missed his exams and still struggles to sleep due to anxiety caused by the attack.
