CCTV footage has captured the moment a 24-year-old Akheel Khan ran through streets in Middlesbrough armed with a hammer during August’s widespread riots and civil unrest
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Akheel Khan running around streets with a hammer
CCTV footage captured the terrifying moment a man ran through a city centre’s streets, armed with a hammer during August’s riots.
Akheel Khan, an engineer with a first class honours degree was caught on CCTV running around the streets of Middlesbrough on August 4. Khan left his Mosque on August 4, only to be seen later that evening with a group of men. It’s thought they were all out looking for someone. Khan had found his car smashed up following the the civil unrest on August 4.
Now, Teesside Crown Court has heard how he armed himself with a hammer and stormed the streets looking for those responsible. At just after 8pm, Cleveland police were called to “reports of a group of Asian men fighting” in the city’s Park Lane. Khan and his associates, two of who were armed with metal poles, were seen to flee the scene. Footage of the incident sees them being chased by six police officers.
Khan, 24, is then seen getting into a waiting car which crashed seconds later. Immediately afterwards, Khan is arrested. He appeared in court on Monday and admitted to violent disorder. He told his barrister that he had not wanted his mum to come to court, as “she had witnessed his every achievement, including his graduation ceremony” and he did not want her to see him being jailed.
Khan’s solicitor, Michele Turner, requested that the judge considered suspending his sentence and said he had been reacting as a victim to an incident following the damage to his car. She explained how, after prayers that day, Khan and many others had stayed behind to discuss any potential reaction if the Mosque came under attack during the riots.
Minutes after the group’s discussion, Khan found his car damaged. The court heard he returned home to Middlesbrough at the weekends to see his family and friends. It was revealed his job in Sheffield is currently being held open for him. Judge Richard Bennett jailed Khan, of Wheatley Close in Acklam, for 15-months. Khan was told he will serve 40% of the prison term before he is released on licence.
