Teen 'ferociously' stabbed young mum as five-year-old son watched in horror
09.06.2023 - 21:31
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A teen followed a young mum before stabbing her in front of her five-year-old son in a brutal attack.
Hasan Arif, who started behaving erratically in the days leading up to the horror assault, has since been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. In August 2020, the woman was walking hand-in-hand with her little boy in Withington when she spotted Arif walking behind her, Manchester Evening News reports.
The then 24-year-old crossed the road and issued a warning to the offender, however he continued to approach her, Minshull Street Crown Court heard. Realising that he was now right behind her, she turned round and saw his 'emotionless face, at which point he suddenly stabbed her with a large knife.
He struck her repeatedly and she fell to the ground, with the terrified victim trying desperately to kick him away. Thankfully, a member of the public hear the woman screaming from the down the road and bravely intervened, before chasing Arif away.
The 19-year-old pled guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and was handed a hospital order with a restriction order due to his mental health diagnosis. Prosecutor Sara Haque said Arif started showing signs of mental health issues at 14 when he bullying comments at school led him to stop eating.
His behaviour became increasingly worse, with his mum noticing a significant change in his mental state three to four weeks before the attack.
“She says his behaviour increased, he was excessively using his phone to the extent his family took it from him, he was pacing around the house and drinking a gallon of milk saying it was to build up his muscles to protect himself,” she said.
On August 29, Arif left home in the morning carrying a rucksack. Later that day at 1.20pm, the woman