May 2021
Man jailed for brutal attack on mother and child A man has been jailed after admitting causing grievous bodily harm to a mum and her son in Tipton last year. Aamer Araf repeatedly stabbed the 37-year-old woman with a kitchen knife until she lost consciousness in Mansion Drive in the early hours of May 28, and as neighbours rushed to her aid, he took her seven-month-old son upstairs, swinging him by his legs and banging his head on the walls. When police arrived Araf used the baby to avoid arrest, but he was tasered to allow officers to rescue the boy and get medical help. The baby was taken to hospital in a critical condition with head injuries, while his mother suffered stab wounds to her face, hands and thigh, and a fractured hand. Araf was arrested for attempted murder, but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of grievous bodily harm at Wolverhampton Crown Court
He was diagnosed as being a paranoid schizophrenic and was also a habitual cannabis user. The 33-year-old, from Mansion Drive, was sentenced to 12 years in prison, reduced to eight years for his early guilty plea and reduced culpability. He will also serve four years on licence upon his release.