Men in chase with stab gang are jailed

Two members of a gang that chased a Black Country man and stabbed him in the face and chest have been jailed for more than two years.

Keith Reid had multiple injuries including a collapsed lung after attackers followed him in cars in Walsall. Abdul Malique and Abdul Shahid Majid were the only ones police traced.

They were cleared of attempted to murder 42-year-old Mr Reid but found guilty of inflicting grevious bodily harm at Wolverhampton Crown Court trial.

Yesterday Malique, 42, was sentenced to 33 months and Majid 27 months in jail for their part in the attack.

The men, both of Coventry, had both served more than 200 days in custody – to be taken into account as part of the sentence.

Judge John Warner said of the attack on Wednesbury Road, Caldmore: "You each took some part in the unlawful attack on him.

"Although very close to the stabbing neither of you was the actual knifeman.

"Although you knew he was going to be caused some injury, rather than serious injury, it would have become obvious he had received some more serious injury."

He said they left the victim in the road.

The assault took place at just before midnight after an earlier argument on the evening of October 5.

Mr Reid wanted to smoke cocaine with a friend in the back of Malique's BMW. He told police Malique closed the window on his arm as he leaned in and he inadvertently punched Malique in the face trying to get free.

Later he heard cars as he made his way along Tasker Street to a friend's house and could see Malique's BMW closely followed by a another car.

He ran into Wednesbury Road, dodging traffic as he headed for CCTV cameras, believing he would be safe from attack. Mr Reid said that when the gang caught up with him between four and six people jumped out of the cars, all of them waving machetes or long knives, and set about him.

He was also struck by the BMW. Malique told officers that he wanted to check on Mr Reid but made a misjudgment with the car and collided with him.