Sudanese Migrant Who Came to the UK by Dinghy Did Something Terrifying to a Woman Who Was Walking Home at Night After a Meal If Not for the Public’s Help, the Outcome Could Have Been Far Worse

A court heard that Ibrahim Albashir, who was originally from Sudan, attacked a woman he did not know while she was walking home after a meal. The attack only ended when members of the public stepped in and stopped him.

Albashir, 34, attacked the woman with a broken glass bottle in Headingley, Leeds, in what witnesses described as a terrifying and violent assault.

The woman was walking home alone from a restaurant when Albashir suddenly grabbed her from behind. He put her in a stranglehold and attacked her with the broken bottle, injuring her head, neck and chest.

Her screams alerted a group of men nearby, including security staff. They rushed to help her, but Albashir continued the attack until one of the men punched him hard enough to knock him unconscious.

Leeds Crown Court heard that Albashir stabbed the woman with the glass as many as 30 times. One witness described the attack as “frenzied”, while another said they believed he was trying to kill her.

On Tuesday, Albashir was sentenced to 25 years in prison and given an indefinite hospital order after previously admitting attempted murder.

The court heard that Albashir has catatonic schizophrenia. Doctors said he was suffering from a psychotic episode at the time of the attack.

Judge Robin Mairs explained that Albashir had told doctors he was born in Sudan and lived there until he was 25. He then travelled through Libya and Italy before reaching France, where he spent time in a mental hospital and was later refused asylum.

He told medical staff that he came to the UK from Calais after using people smugglers. He had lived in several parts of the country, including Luton, Coventry and Birmingham, before staying at a hostel in Barrow-in-Furness.

He later ended up in Leeds after being removed from a train travelling from Manchester to York because he did not have a ticket.

The court also heard that just two days before the attack, police had stopped Albashir in the same area after finding him with his trousers around his ankles and behaving in what was described as a “trance-like state”. He was released without further action being taken.

The attack happened at about 9pm on March 17, 2024, opposite the Original Oak pub on Otley Road in Headingley, an area known for its busy nightlife.

Judge Mairs said Albashir grabbed the woman from behind and held her around the neck before attacking her with the glass bottle.

Several men tried to intervene, but the attack continued until one of them punched Albashir and knocked him unconscious. The men then helped the injured woman and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

The judge said the woman was extremely lucky to escape with relatively minor physical injuries, but said the emotional impact of the attack had been serious and could stay with her for the rest of her life.

The court also heard concerns about Albashir’s behaviour towards women. These included allegations of a sexual assault at a hotel where he had been staying in Birmingham and another incident involving a member of staff while he was being treated in hospital. The judge also said Albashir had exposed himself to a doctor.

Judge Mairs said it was significant that Albashir had chosen to attack a woman who was alone and said there appeared to have been a sexual element to the attack.

The victim was in court when her personal statement was read. She explained that although her physical injuries were not as serious as they could have been, the emotional scars had changed her life.

She said she has a scar on her chest that constantly reminds her of what happened. Whenever someone asks about it, she said she is forced to remember what she described as the worst day of her life.

The woman said she still does not understand why she was attacked.

She explained that not knowing why Albashir targeted her had made it difficult for her to deal with what happened. She also said that walking past the place where she was attacked now fills her with fear and panic.

She told the court that the incident had completely changed the way she lives her life.

Consultant forensic psychiatrist Lucy Bacon told the court that all the doctors involved agreed Albashir has catatonic schizophrenia.

His defence lawyer, Katherine Robinson, said the attack would not have happened if Albashir had not been suffering from a psychotic episode. She also acknowledged how horrific and frightening the incident must have been for the victim.

Albashir appeared before the court by video link from hospital.

Judge Mairs ordered that he should be kept indefinitely in a secure mental health hospital. If his condition improves in the future, he could be transferred to prison to serve the remaining part of his sentence.

The judge also said it was not for him to decide whether Albashir, who told doctors he had been brought to Britain by people smugglers, should eventually be deported.

After the sentencing, Detective Inspector Richard James from West Yorkshire Police praised the people who stepped in to help.

He said Albashir had approached a woman who was alone and carried out a sustained and extremely violent attack. The attack only ended because security staff heard the woman’s screams and rushed to help.

The officers said the men who intervened put themselves at risk to protect the victim. They also helped treat her injuries before paramedics arrived.

Police said that without their intervention, the incident could easily have ended as a murder investigation.