A CHALLENGE has been made which could increase the jail sentence of two assailants who joined in an armed attack on a dog walker.

A gang of four attackers arrived in a white Audi A3 and chased after their victim with metal bars and lump hammers, breaking his jaw in three places, Bradford Crown Court was told last month (February).

Mohammed Hamza Taj, 24, was jailed for six years and Aasim Hussain, 26, for five years and four months for assaulting the man in an alleyway at Carr Side Crescent, Batley, on October 9, 2020.

Taj, of Hyrst Garth, Batley, and Hussain, of Dark Lane, Batley, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent after their case was listed for trial in December last year.

They were sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on February 17.

Now a bid has been made under a scheme for sentences thought to be too lenient.

The Attorney General’s Office will review the case and must decide whether to refer both sentences to the Court of Appeal for a hearing if they appear “unduly lenient”.

Under the rules of the unduly lenient sentence scheme, the Attorney General's Office has 28 days from the date of sentence to make a decision on the case.

They can send the matter to the Court of Appeal, which could decide that the sentence: should stay the same; is unreasonably low and may increase it; or refuse to hear the case.

During the original court case, prosecutor Adam Walker said the victim and his friend were walking their dogs when one of the animals sniffed at another man. He subjected the pair to racist abuse before summoning the occupants of the Audi.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus:

The car followed the dog walkers and four young men got out. Hussain was the driver and others were armed with metal bars and lump hammers, the court heard.

The men fled but were pursued. Taj had a long metal pole as the victim ran up a driveway in a bid to escape. He jumped over a fence but was caught in a back alley and set upon.

His jaw was broken in three places and he underwent surgery when three metal plates were inserted.

Simon Hustler, solicitor advocate for both defendants, conceded that it was a joint enterprise attack but that they were “‘at the back of the charge”.

Hussain said he made a terrible decision to get involved while Taj described the incident as “incredibly stupid”.