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One of the thugs - Daham Ali
knife muggers caged for 15 years
11/12/2003
TWO men who were involved in a violent mugging campaign which
left a young doctor partially paralysed have been jailed for a
total of 15 years.
Ahmed Khalid and Daham Ali were members of a gang which ambushed
victims before robbing them of mobile phones.
During one attack Dr Francis Gilchrist, 24, was stabbed four times
in the neck, shoulder and back and is now partially paralysed down
his left arm because of nerve damage.
Dr Gilchrist, who studied medicine at Manchester University, has
since been able to return to work. He said: "I am just glad that
it's all over and I can now put the whole incident behind
me."
He was at Manchester Crown Court when Khalid, 22, was jailed for
eight years and 19-year-old Ali was given seven years.
After the case Dr Gilchrist, a senior house officer working for the
Central Manchester Health Authority, said he was recovering from
his injuries.
Support
"It has been a long ordeal. I would like to thank my friends and
family for the love and support they showed and the
police for bringing the men who did this to justice."
Khalid, of Weaste Road, Salford, and Ali, of Mansfield Drive,
Blackley, had both been convicted of conspiracy to rob. They were
arrested after three separate robberies earlier this year when
victims were attacked as they walked home.
The final robbery involved Dr Gilchrist and a friend who were
walking along a footpath near Kingsway at Levenshulme, when they
were ambushed.
Dr Gilchrist tried to protect his friend after he was knocked to
the ground and kicked unconscious but he was then stabbed four
times and was later rushed to hospital where he had several
operations.
Khalid and Ali were both arrested when police launched Operation
Falkland following the attacks and saw the men acting suspiciously
in Fallowfield.
Detective Constable Pete Rickards said the gang had used "an
extreme level of
violence" for very little gain.
"The total proceeds of the crimes added up to less than £200 - a
small profit in the light of the seriousness of their offences," he
said.
"I hope the sentences go some way to reassuring their victims and
residents of south Manchester that we are committed to tackling
street robberies and that those responsible will be
punished."
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