Moment violent thug bludgeons man with hammer before fleeing country

This is the horrific moment a thug bludgeoned a customer's head with a hammer in a Sparkhill shop. Footage shows Abdul Wahab running into the convenience store on Stratford Road, clutching the weapon after spotting his victim standing at the front counter.

Raising the hammer above his head, he smashed it into the man's head in a savage attack lasting six seconds before fleeing. In further CCTV, Wahab is seen walking hurriedly away across a park where he disposed of the hammer in a lake.

Wahab booked a flight and was at Heathrow airport within hours, where he boarded a flight to Abu Dhabi. He was arrested at the airport after he returned back to the UK on March 26.

Read More: Man bludgeoned Stratford Road shop customer's head with hammer then fled to Pakistan

Meanwhile, Abdul Wahab’s victim, who was in his 20s, had to have metal plates inserted into his skull and jaw in the assault, which happened around 2pm on February 21, this year. He suffered bleeding on the brain and swelling, which could have been fatal.

Wahab, aged 29, from Castleford Road, Birmingham, appeared for sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court on 25 October, where he was jailed for 21 years.

He had previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon but was found guilty of attempted murder by a jury.

CCTV evidence compiled by investigators proved to be vital in the case. Wahab didn’t give evidence in court but comments he made to officers and a probation officer suggested the attack was committed out of some sort of ‘revenge.’

DC Sam Higginson, from our Complex Investigation Team at Force CID, said: “This was a brutal attack on a man in a shop in the middle of the day. The man suffered serious head injuries, including a bleed to the brain, and had metal plates fitted in his skull. He was in hospital for more than a month.

“Wahab then fled the country in a desperate bid to escape justice. Fortunately, we arrested him on his return to the UK.

“This sentence sends out a clear message to perpetrators who act in this way. We will find you, you will be convicted and you will spend many years behind bars.”