Charity raider jailed for stabbing at Bradford mosque (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Manningham man Afshin Adamit jailed for stabbing at Doha mosque in Little Horton

8:30am Tuesday 21st June 2011 in Little Horton By Jenny Loweth, T&A Reporter

A knife-wielding intruder who savagely stabbed a volunteer caretaker inside a Bradford mosque has been jailed for three years.

Afshin Adamit, a drug addict and illegal immigrant, was prowling the building at night to plunder cash from the charity box.

Adamit, 34, repeatedly lunged at Mohammed Ali Ahmed with a knife in the main hall at the Doha mosque – just missing his heart – Bradford Crown Court heard.

Eight months before the attack, on January 23, Adamit was jailed for two months by Bradford magistrates for stealing money from the same mosque, in Claremont, Little Horton.

Yesterday he was sentenced for aggravated burglary and unlawfully wounding Mr Ahmed.

The judge, Recorder Bryan Cox QC, told Adamit, of Hallfield Road, Manningham, Bradford: “A serious feature of this case is that it took place in a mosque where those present were entitled to expect peace and sanctuary.”

Prosecutor Camille Morland said Mr Ahmed was locking up the mosque at 8pm when he saw the lift moving and heard someone trying to get through a secure door upstairs.

He intercepted Adamit who drew a knife from his pocket and told him he was taking revenge after his arrest the previous year.

Mr Ahmed tried to defend himself by waving his mobile phone charger but he was stabbed in the chest and arm.

Adamit fled through a fire exit door and Mr Ahmed called for help on his phone.

He was treated in hospital for a wound to his chest, just below his heart, after the knife penetrated his coat and other clothing.

He also needed stitches to cuts to his arms.

In a statement, Mr Ahmed accused Adamit of targeting mosques to steal from the charity boxes.

David Birrell, for Adamit, said: “It must be a prison sentence and deportation at the end of it.”

Adamit was an illegal immigrant from Iran who became addicted to heroin while living in a hostel.

The judge said Adamit went to the mosque to steal, rather than cause violence, but he had a knife and used it as soon as he was confronted.

After the case, PC Hannah Mansell, of Bradford South CID, said: “Adamit fully intended to steal from the centre without thought or consideration of the cost to his own community.

“It is through luck alone that his extreme actions when confronted did not result in a more serious outcome.”

• Read the full story Tuesday’s T&A