'Malnourished' teenager robbed woman at knifepoint

Farasat Ahmed has been jailed for almost three years

A desperate "malnourished" teenager who robbed a lone woman at knifepoint as she walked to work has been jailed for 32 months.

Farasat Ahmed laid in wait for a target and confronted his victim as she walked along Oakworth Road in Keighley in the early hours of 10 October 2024, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The 19-year-old, of Red Hold Crescent, Keighley, was sentenced on Monday after admitting charges of robbery and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Ahmed's barrister, Imran Khan, said his client had been in a desperate position and had not eaten properly for up to four weeks, but the judge said whatever his motivation "it was a very serious matter".

Prosecutor Louise Pryke said Ahmed was carrying a six to seven-inch knife with a curved blade, which he held out in front of his victim.

After crossing the road to block the woman's path, the defendant was said to have told her: "Give me your cash and I won't hurt you."

Miss Pryke said the woman thought she was going to be stabbed and handed over her purse.

Ahmed then demanded her phone and told her: "Don't look at me."

The court heard that Ahmed, who had no previous convictions, casually walked off and the woman turned up at her workplace in tears and shaking.

In a victim impact statement, she said she had walked to work for 14 years but was now reluctant to walk anywhere alone.

Letter of apology

Defending, Mr Khan said Ahmed had come to the UK from Germany after suffering domestic violence.

He claimed Ahmed's family only had two boxes of cornflakes and a bag of pasta in their home.

Mr Khan said Ahmed had accepted what he did was wrong and had written a letter of apology.

Judge Peter Kelvin KC said Ahmed had "laid in wait" before selecting his victim.

"You were, it seems, at the time malnourished," said the judge.

"You had no money. Your motivation was to get money for your family.

"But it was a very serious matter. Night time, producing a knife, threatening a lone female and robbing her of her possessions, albeit she got some back."

The defendant was told he would serve his sentence in a young offender institution.

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