Nazi ‘coward’ jailed for trying to behead Leeds dentist in Tesco

Zack Davies, 26, hacked at Dr Sarandev Bhambra, 24, with a machete, severely injuring the dentist who was in the shop on his dinner break and singled out only because of his race.

Davies, from Mold, North Wales, slashed his victim across his back and head, almost severing Dr Bhambra’s left hand and leaving him with “very severe” injuries.

Witnesses reported seeing a white man chasing an Asian man through the store with a machete and claw hammer. Davies was only stopped when a member of the public, former soldier Peter Fuller, stepped in.

He was arrested after the attack at the Tesco supermarket in Mold on January 14.

Davies was said to have been obsessed with Nazi ideology, with associated literature found in a later police search of his home.

Posters relating to the 2013 murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby by two Islamic extremists were also discovered along with photos and videos of him posing before a Nazi swastika and the flag of far-right group National Action.

Davies admitted wounding with intent but was found guilty of attempted murder after a trial in June.

Today at Mold Crown Court Judge Rhys Rowlands sentenced him to life with a minimum of 14 years in jail before he can apply for parole.

Outside court Dr Bhambra, a Sikh born in Leeds, branded Davies a “coward” who, armed with weapons, attacked him from behind.

He said if the attack had been committed by a non-white person it would have been treated as an act of terrorism.

Gareth Preston, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Cymru-Wales, said: “This was a vicious, racist attack upon Dr Bhambra which has left him with life changing injuries.

“When the prosecution team reviewed the evidence from a number of witness accounts and from CCTV of the incident, Zack Davies’s intention to cause extremely serious or even fatal injuries to Dr Bhambra was abundantly clear.

“It was also clear from the evidence that the heroic actions of Peter Fuller may well have prevented this horrific attack from having a fatal outcome.

“I would like to thank all those who helped the prosecution team build a strong case against Davies, especially all those who provided statements to the police or appeared as witnesses during the trial.

“Finally, we should acknowledge that whilst the criminal justice process is concluded with today’s sentencing, Dr Bhambra continues to deal with the consequences of this terrible incident. We hope that today’s sentencing will be of some assistance to him as he seeks to move forward with his life.”

Dr Bhambra said he will “never understand” racial hatred and hoped to return to work in the near future.

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