MUSTAFA HAKIM AND HIS SHOCKING CRIMES IN BIRMINGHAM
A man identified as Mustafa Hakim has been sentenced to life imprisonment after committing a brutal and terrifying assault in Birmingham, specifically in the area of Selly Oak.Hakim was convicted of kidnapping, raping, strangling, and assaulting a woman in a heinous attack that took place on the Bourne Brook Walkway early in the morning.
The incident occurred just before 8:45 am on July 28 of the previous year.
According to reports, Hakim approached the woman from behind, covering her mouth with his hand and then strangling her, threatening to kill her if she continued to scream.
Despite her desperate protests, he forcibly carried her to nearby bushes, where he proceeded to pull down her trousers and commit a sexual assault.
The victim’s ordeal was both violent and terrifying, leaving her deeply traumatized.
Following a trial held earlier this year, the 30-year-old offender, who resides at Rickyard Piece, Quinton, was found guilty of multiple serious charges, including kidnapping, rape, strangulation, assault by penetration, and theft.
The court proceedings revealed that Hakim had a history of criminal behavior, with 23 convictions for 43 separate offenses, such as threats with a knife, shoplifting, and affray.
Despite his criminal record, Hakim had been released from prison just a month prior to the attack, having served time for previous offenses.
The case was further complicated by Hakim’s decision to represent himself after dismissing his legal team prior to the trial.
During the sentencing hearing at Birmingham Crown Court, Hakim bizarrely claimed that it was 'not fair' that he was sentenced without his legal representatives.
He maintained his innocence throughout, making disturbing comments about the victim’s absence from the court hearing.
The court was informed that the victim has since become a recluse, moving out of Birmingham to the countryside, and has struggled to recover from the trauma inflicted upon her.
The attack took place shortly after Hakim’s release from custody for an incident of affray.
It was also two days after he was caught peering over a cubicle in the women’s toilet at Snow Hill railway station.
Prior to the assault, Hakim had been prowling the streets of Selly Oak on a bicycle, stalking the area and waiting for an opportunity.
He then approached the woman from behind on the Bourne Brook Walkway, snatched her phone, and forcibly took her away.
During the assault, the victim managed to call her boyfriend using her smartwatch, which allowed him to hear her distress.
She struggled free from Hakim’s grip and ran to seek help from a nearby resident, who promptly contacted the police.
Hakim initially fled the scene, picking up a stick and changing his clothes before boarding a bus to Acocks Green.
He was later arrested after authorities tracked him down.
The court heard that DNA evidence strongly linked Hakim to the crime scene, with the DNA sample being a 'billion to one' match to him.
Additionally, CCTV footage captured him loitering in the vicinity before the attack, and cell site analysis confirmed that he had the victim’s phone after the assault.
Despite these compelling pieces of evidence, Hakim continued to deny responsibility, claiming that the victim was lying and that he was innocent.
Judge Simon Drew KC addressed Hakim directly, stating that it was evident he had been seeking a victim for some time, choosing a location not covered by CCTV to carry out his attack.
The judge emphasized that Hakim had laid in wait and then launched his assault, further noting that Hakim had snatched the victim’s phone but was thwarted when she managed to call her boyfriend.
The judge also pointed out that Hakim had been assessed as suffering from 'delusional disorder' and likely harbored paranoid delusions at the time of the offence.
Considering the severity of the crime, Hakim’s criminal history, his mental health, and his failure to accept responsibility, Judge Drew declared him a 'dangerous offender.' He explained that there was no foreseeable time in the future when Hakim would no longer pose a significant risk to the public.
At the conclusion of the sentencing, Hakim attempted to speak with his solicitors, but the judge informed him that he no longer had legal representation.
As part of his sentence, Hakim will remain on the sex offender register for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities due to the gravity of his crimes.
