Investigation by GMP Rochdale CID sees man who attempted to murder his ex-partners husband jailed for a minimum of 30 years

Following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Rochdale CID, Ijaz Ahmed (DOB: 17/07/1971) has been convicted of attempting to murder his ex-partners husband. He attended Minshull Street Crown Court today (15 June 2023) and was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years in jail with 5 years on extended license. He was also handed an indefinite restraining order against the victim.

In the early hours of the morning on Friday 10 December 2021, Ijaz Ahmed drove to the victim's address and lay in wait. When the victim left his house cycling to work, Ahmed pursued in his car and knocked him from his bike. He then attacked the victim with a bladed weapon and left him to bleed out in the street.

GMP officers were alerted to the serious collision on Bowness Road, Middleton at around 6.30am that morning (10/12/21) and found the victim had suffered deep lacerations to his face and scalp that were inflicted by a bladed article as well as an open skull fracture and blunt force trauma to his body.

Witnesses at the scene described the assault that had taken place and provided vital information that would aid officers in their efforts to track down the attacker, including a description of both the vehicle involved - a Blue Toyota Yaris - and the suspect.

Detectives quickly traced the suspected vehicle to a garage in Stoke-On-Trent where it was being advertised for sale.  Here they identified a key witness who revealed he had given a key to the Blue Toyota to Ijaz Ahmed, on the understanding that Ahmed knew someone who was interested in buying the car. This man then told officers that the car was missing on the morning of the collision and was returned a few hours later by Ahmed with damage to the number plate and scratches to the paintwork.

When confronted, Ahmed offered to pay for repairs and broke the number plate into pieces. He insisted the number plate be reported as stolen to the police, but this was not done and the number plate was simply replaced by the garage.

Ahmed fled the country following the attack in an attempt to evade capture by the police, and returned 5 months later when he thought that police were no longer looking for him.

On 6 May 2022, Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by Staffordshire Police on behalf of GMP and he was taken to custody for questioning. Though he denied involvement in the attack, and then refused to answer any questions put to him, Detectives set about compiling sufficient evidence to charge him with attempted murder. He was then remanded into police custody until trial.

Judge Bernadette Baxter said: "This was a ruthless and brutal attack that was premeditated, planned and motivated by jealousy, hurt pride and revenge. The CCTV is chilling and showed Ahmed prowling the area and lying in wait. The victim was utterly defenceless and suffered profound injuries. He is no longer the man he was and never will be. From first to last (Ahmed) has shown not one jot of remorse."

Detective Inspector Nicola Hopkinson of GMP Rochdale CID said: “Getting justice for the victim has been at the forefront of the minds of everyone in the investigation team and I’m pleased the sentence today reflects some of the pain and suffering that was inflicted. I hope it comes as some comfort to the victim and his family and I hope it brings some closure to the local community who were left deeply affected and shaken by the incident.

“I want to thank the bravery of the witnesses in coming forward and supporting the investigation and the victim himself who was integral to this case in providing compelling evidence that helped secure the conviction.

“It was a cowardly and utterly horrific attack on a man who was simply going to work to provide for his family and he is very lucky to have survived.

"The investigation team has worked around the clock to build the case against Ahmed, and whilst the sentence today in no way compares to the life-long sentence inflicted on the victim - who will bear the scars for the rest of his life - I am pleased their hard-work and dedication has secured a very significant jail sentence.

“Finally I hope the sentence today makes plain to those who think they can carry weapons and harm others, that they will spend many years behind bars.

“I can also promise criminals that, as this case demonstrates, Greater Manchester Police will use every resource available to hunt down those responsible and make them answer for their crimes.

“We continue to appeal to anyone with information about serious violent offences to report it."

You can make a report via the LiveChat function on GMP’s website: www.gmp.police.uk.

Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Always dial 999 in an emergency.