Three men from Birmingham have been handed prison sentences after deliberately driving a car into three pedestrians in a shocking and senseless attack in Handsworth Wood.
Deliberate Attack Leaves Three Injured
The incident occurred on 27 July last year on Burton Wood Drive. According to West Midlands Police's Major Crime Unit, a Nissan Qashqai was driven at speed onto the pavement, striking two teenagers and a woman in her 20s.
The victims were all taken to hospital. Fortunately, their injuries were not life-threatening and they are now recovering.
The car fled the scene but was later found dumped nearby. Through extensive CCTV analysis, detectives identified the occupants as Kaiden Lemathy, Ismail Khan, and Mohammed Najeeb.
Sentences Handed Down at Crown Court
Investigators confirmed that Kaiden Lemathy, 18, of Holte Road, was the driver. He pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, three counts of attempting to cause GBH with intent, and dangerous driving.
At Birmingham Crown Court on 15 December, Lemathy was sentenced to seven years in prison and disqualified from driving for 15 years. He received a further two-year sentence for separate offences of possession with intent to supply Class-A drugs and possession of a firearm.
Mohammed Najeeb, 19, admitted attempting to cause GBH with intent and was sentenced to two years and nine months. Ismail Khan, 21, also admitted the same charge and was jailed for four years.
Motive for Violent Assault Remains Unknown
A key unanswered question remains the motive for the attack. Despite pleading guilty, the three defendants refused to explain their actions to the court.
Detectives had suspected the incident was a targeted attack against the victims, but the reason behind it is still unclear.
Major Crime Detective Sergeant Rosie Farnworth commented on the case: “Hours of work from a dedicated team of officers went into this investigation. The injuries of those involved could have been far more serious, all because of the dangerous actions of the three. Throughout the investigation, our focus has been on securing justice for them, and we are pleased that the three involved are now behind bars.”
The court result brings a measure of closure to a violent episode that left a local community shaken and three innocent people with physical and psychological scars.
