Seven men have been handed lengthy custodial sentences at Leicester Crown Court for their involvement in a targeted petrol-bomb attack on a residential property in Stoke-on-Trent, which left a mother and her 13-year-old child with catastrophic, life-changing burn injuries.
The incident unfolded on Beverley Drive following an earlier violent disorder on Kildare Street, Longton, during which a man sustained a stab wound to his shoulder requiring hospital treatment.
Hours later, a group went to the Beverley Drive address demanding to locate an individual connected to the earlier altercation.
The attackers smashed the ground-floor windows of the property, poured petrol directly into the premises, and ignited the fuel. During the initial breach, the mother was struck on the head before the fire was set, despite the perpetrators being aware that occupants remained inside.
Trapped by the flames spreading rapidly through the ground floor, both the mother and her 13-year-old child were forced to leap from an upstairs window to escape.
The mother suffered severe injuries, including 65 per cent burns across her body, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs, and a laceration to her liver. She remained in an induced coma for two months and, while now able to walk, will require lifelong medical support. Her 13-year-old child sustained severe burns that necessitated extensive skin graft procedures.
Under UK legislation, child victims and individuals connected to specific reporting restrictions are protected by statutory anonymity.
Following investigations by Staffordshire Police, convictions were secured across two crown courts:
Sentenced at Leicester Crown Court:
- Shakil Uddin, aged 23, of Oldham: convicted of one count of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life; sentenced to 34 years’ imprisonment.
- Ali Abbas, aged 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent: pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, arson with intent to endanger life, two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a bladed article; sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
- Haris Mahmood, aged 22, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent: pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life; sentenced to 24 years and nine months’ imprisonment.
- Riyadh Iqbal, aged 23, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent: convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life; sentenced to 12 years and six months’ imprisonment.
- Lukman Khan, aged 25, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent: convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent to endanger life; sentenced to 12 years and six months’ imprisonment.
- Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, aged 25: convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent; sentenced to 11 years and six months’ imprisonment.
- Tayyeb Majeed, aged 24, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent: convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent; sentenced to 10 years and six months’ imprisonment.
Previously Sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court (3 June):
- Naveed Hussain, aged 32, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent: pleaded guilty to violent disorder and possession of a bladed article; sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.
- Bilal Ahmed, aged 27, of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent: pleaded guilty to violent disorder; sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, alongside 100 hours of unpaid work.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing determinate sentences of seven years or more for serious violent and specified offences, standard automatic release at the halfway point does not apply. All defendants receiving immediate custodial sentences are subject to the statutory two-thirds requirement, meaning they must serve two-thirds of their respective terms in prison custody before becoming eligible for release on licence under probation supervision.
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