The new series of 24 Hours in Police Custody opens tonight with a two-part investigation into a brutal attack on a teenager in Luton, a case where initial assumptions of a hit-and-run were quickly overturned. The first episode, titled 'The Ambush', airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Sunday, August 30, with the second part following next Sunday at the same time.
The case centres on a 17-year-old boy who was found critically injured and left for dead beneath a railway bridge in Luton on 2 June 2022, in the early hours of the morning. He suffered catastrophic head injuries and was initially believed to have been the victim of a hit-and-run collision. However, after CCTV footage emerged, it became clear that no vehicle was involved and the incident was no accident.
Investigation reveals pre-planned attack
Detectives from Bedfordshire Police discovered that the teenager had suffered a traumatic brain injury but no other injuries, which was not consistent with being struck by a car. Evidence then pointed towards a turf war between rival drug gangs operating in the area.
CCTV recovered from a nearby car park revealed the moments leading up to the attack. The footage showed the victim getting into a vehicle with an associate for a few minutes before they both got out and walked off. A second vehicle, a BMW, then drove towards them, and four masked men armed with weapons including baseball bats jumped out. Two of the men caught up with the victim under a railway bridge, where they attacked him out of sight of the cameras.
Only getaway driver convicted
Despite an extensive investigation, the four masked men responsible for the attack have never been caught, and their identities remain unknown four years later. Only one person has been jailed for their involvement in the crime: the getaway driver in the pre-planned attack.
Mohammed Hamid, 50, previously from Luton, was already in prison for an unrelated matter when he was found guilty at Luton Crown Court in February. He drove the attackers away from the scene before dumping the car. Hamid was sentenced to 10 years and nine months after being found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.
Police plea for information
Former Detective Sergeant Thomas Hamm, who led the investigation for Bedfordshire Police, said the case remains open. “Ultimately this case isn’t closed,” he said. “So my plea to the public on behalf of my colleagues who remain in force is this: if you know anything about this incident or have information on the outstanding offenders, now is the time to speak up.
“It has been four years, I’ve no doubt that those involved will have spoken about this and someone out there knows exactly what took place. I urge you to speak to the police or report completely anonymously via Crimestoppers.” Crimestoppers never asks for any identifying details. Bedfordshire Police can be contacted by calling 101 and asking for the force.
Mr Hamm added: “This was an incredibly complex and emotive investigation, both from a personal and professional perspective. Sadly, what this case revealed is a fact that came up time and time again in my career as a police officer and later a detective – where there is illegal drug activity there is inevitably violence and exploitation of every kind.
“Whether that is young boys sent miles from home with a backpack and a burner phone, serious youth violence or vulnerable women entrapped in on-street sexual exploitation, drugs are almost always at the centre of it all. That’s what this episode showcases and what 24 Hours in Police Custody does as a whole, it offers unprecedented insight into the challenges and crimes Bedfordshire Police face on a daily basis. My hope is that viewers watch the show, not to be entertained but to be educated on the topics the documentary covers.”
Victim’s life permanently altered
After the court case in 2026, Detective Sergeant Thomas Hamm said: “This was a shocking and ruthless attack on a teenager, carried out with clear planning and intent. The level of violence inflicted has had a devastating and permanent impact on the victim’s life.
“Despite life-saving surgery, he continues to live with severe, life-altering injuries, including significant memory loss, and faces challenges that no young person should ever have to endure. The consequences for him and his family are profound and long-lasting.
“We hope today’s conviction offers some reassurance to the victim’s loved ones, and to our community, that we will relentlessly pursue those who commit such calculated acts of violence. Our detectives have worked tirelessly to piece together what happened that night, but their efforts continue.”
The episode airs tonight (Sunday, August 30) on Channel 4 at 9pm, and will also be available to watch on catch-up on Channel 4 online.
