Sudanese asylum seeker who threatened Christian preacher with knife spared jail | UK | News
A Sudanese asylum seeker who threatened a Christian preacher with a knife in London has been spared from prison. Ahmed Muhammed, 35, also dragged Daniel Ayettey down the stairs during the attack last May.
Mr. Ayettey was addressing a crowd at Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park on May 25. The Sudanese national, who arrived in the UK in 2012 and has 29 previous convictions for 67 crimes under his name, asked her: “What would you like to see happen in my life?” Mr. Ayettey replied: “I would like the Lord to be in your life.” Mr Mohammed then tried to drag the preacher downstairs before fleeing the scene. He returned a short time later with a knife in his hand and told Mr Ayettey: “I’m going to stab you.”
As reported by Great Britain NewsMr Mohammed was arrested just before being found guilty of threatening a person with an offensive weapon in public. At Southwark Crown Court he was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
Judge Martin Griffith told Mr Mohammed: “You have a shocking history of convictions.” During sentencing, he acknowledged that the 35-year-old had been detained for eight months and had agreed to receive alcohol treatment.
Prosecutor Nicholas Mesure told the court: “This appeared to be the catalyst as Mr Mohammed changed his demeanor very quickly and became very angry. There were a number of people, including Muslims, who were aware of Mr Mohammed and they tried to persuade Mr Ayettey not to call the police.”
The judge added: “I hope the suspended sentence may be a sign to you that you shouldn’t be doing nothing, drinking and stealing from shops with your friends in Westminster.”
He also told Mohammed, who admitted three separate burglaries at Sainsbury’s in London a few weeks before the knife attack, that he would be “sent back to prison” if he offended again. As part of the sentence, Brent must attend 30 days of rehabilitation activities and six months of alcohol treatment.
Mr Mohammed was also banned from entering Westminster and consuming drugs and alcohol. The judge said he would not punish him because he “didn’t have money”.
Mr Mohammed will return to court for a progress check in two months. The judge continued: “When I see you in two months, I expect the parole to be imposed to tell you how well you are doing. I will see you on April 10 with a glowing report.”
