Homeless chef told police he stole knife 'to kill' ex-partner

She feels so unsafe she is thinking of moving house

A 40-year-old man told police he had stolen a knife from a supermarket so he could kill his former partner. Nottingham Crown Court heard how Hedi Mohammed also said to officers if they freed him from custody he would carry out his threat against the victim.

In an impact statement she told how she has had to beef up her home security as a result of the threats he made. And she is even considering moving from the village where she lives to get away from the defendant.

Jailing him for 18 months, Judge James Sampson said: “She feels unsafe, has had to change her doors and windows and has difficulty sleeping. She wants nothing more to do with you as you have caused her a great deal of distress.

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“You intended that the police would believe you when you said you were going to kill (the victim). You also had a knife which you said was for that purpose.

“Your behaviour was highly abusive and threatening and you repeatedly called her when you were in drink. The tone of the calls was menacing and you told her you were ‘going to get her’.

“I am told you now accept the relationship is over and I hope that is right.” Stuart Pattinson, prosecuting, said the victim called off her and the defendant's “on-off” relationship and very soon after she did he began to harass her with phone calls.

The prosecutor said he left her “menacing” voicemails including one in which Mohammed said “I am going to get you”. Mr Pattinson said on June 23, the defendant was homeless and living on the edge of the car park outside Morrisons in Sutton Road, Mansfield, and a security guard there began to recognise him and told him he was not welcome inside the store.

He said: “Police officers were called and arrived. He had a yellow box cutter on him and he said he had it to ‘kill somebody’ adding that he ‘wanted to kill anybody’, repeating several times he intended to kill her (his former partner). He said he had stolen the knife to kill her and if the police released him that is what he was going to do.”

Mohammed, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to harassment, possession of a bladed article and making threats to kill. He has no previous convictions.

In her victim impact statement the woman said: “I feel unsafe in my own home constantly checking the window and doors. I feel anxious about leaving the house and have horrible dreams which wake me up.

“I think about moving house because I feel so unsafe.”

Will Bennett, mitigating, said his client moved to the UK 15 years ago, began working as a pot washer and then became a chef. He said: “He now finds himself homeless and desperate and his offending is driven by that desperation and a desire to get himself arrested.”