A teen followed a young mum as she walked with her five-year-old son before ferociously stabbing her. Hasan Arif, 19, who had been showing increasingly bizarre behaviour in the days leading up to the brutal attack, has since been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
In August 2020, as the then 24-year-old woman walked hand-in-hand with her little boy through Withington, she noticed Arif, then 17, walking behind her. Despite crossing the road and issuing a warning to him, he got closer and closer to her, Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
Feeling his presence directly behind her, she turned and saw his ‘emotionless’ face, before he brandished a large knife and stabbed at her repeatedly. She fell backwards and kicked out at him, but he continued lashing out.
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Fortunately a member of the public who heard the woman screaming from down the road intervened and chased Arif away. Greater Manchester Police released a media CCTV appeal days later and Arif’s own brother handed him in.
Pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, Arif was handed a hospital order with a restriction order due to his mental health diagnosis.
Sara Haque, prosecuting, told the court that Arif was first showing mental health issues at the age of 14, when he stopped eating following bullying comments at school. The behaviour gradually became worse, but his mum noticed a dramatic change three to four weeks before the attack.
“She says his behaviour increased, he was excessively using his phone to the extent his family took it from him, he was pacing around the house and drinking a gallon of milk saying it was to build up his muscles to protect himself,” she said.
On August 29, he left the house carrying a rucksack in the morning, and later, at around 1.20pm, as the woman walked with her son, she realised he was walking behind her.
“She turned left onto Rudheath Avenue, and a quarter of the way down became aware the male had got closer to her,” Ms Haque said. “She picked up her pace and became aware he was a metre behind her, which made her feel uncomfortable, so she said: “This motherf***** taking the p***” to warn him away.”
She then crossed the road and he followed her, so she crossed back, but he continued to walk directly behind her. It was then she turned to face Arif and was stabbed.
She was left with six wounds to her leg which required surgery. Her son, then 5, witnessed the terrifying attack.
In a statement, the mum said: “Since the incident I have felt so much guilt in relation to my son. Knowing my five-year-old child saw this is devastating.
“For months after I had heightened anxiety, every time I step outside I get heart palpitations and struggle to breathe.
“At the time I thought he was going to kill me, and I thought my son was going to witness my murder. Why me? Why attack me? What have I done?”
The court heard that Arif had no previous convictions and had not shown any signs of violence in the past.
Giving evidence, psychiatrist Dr Henry Ashcroft said that Arif was showing signs of underlying paranoia and reduced cognitive abilities at the time. “His behaviour was becoming increasingly bizarre and his family were extremely concerned about him,” he said.
“The diagnosis of schizophrenia and his mental state at the time were a significant factor in the incident that occurred.”
Mitigating, Waheed Baber said: “As soon as the CCTV was released, his family contacted the police immediately. Three lives have been ruined - mental illness is at the very forefront.”
Arif, formerly of Stanthorne Avenue, but now residing at Edenfield Hospital, was sentenced to a hospital order alongside a restriction order. This means he will be detained in hospital as he receives treatment, and when he is released, he will be monitored for the rest of his life.
In sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said: “She was a complete stranger to you. She was walking in broad daylight with her young son when you began to follow her.
“You pulled a large knife you brought with you out of your rucksack and used it to commit a ferocious attack on her.
“You stabbed her repeatedly aiming for the chest and stomach, and even when she fell to the ground and courageously kicked out in desperation to protect herself, fearing she would lose her life, you continued stabbing her. She showed tremendous courage.”
Judge Landale also commended the actions of the member of the public who intervened.
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