Woman repeatedly stabbed on Leeds street by would-be killer admits: 'I still don't know why it happened'
She is still unable to face walking on the street where the attack took place
The victim of frenzied broken bottle attack on a busy Leeds street has told a court that she remains bewildered as to why murderous Ibrahim Albashir chose her.
He attacked the woman on Otley Road in Headingley as she walked alone on the evening of March 17, 2024.
It was only the efforts of members of the public who intervened to stop the attack that saved her life.
Albashir, 34, handed a 25-year sentence after appearing at Leeds Crown Court, having admitted a charge of attempted murder.
In a victim impact statement, read to the court by prosecutor Brian Russell, the woman said: “It's difficult to put into words how this incident has affected me since, but it has completely changed the way I live my life.
“Before this happened I considered myself a confident and independent person.
“Albashir grabbed me and stabbed me in the neck. It's the sort of thing you can never expect to happen to you, something you can prepare for or prevent happen.
“I have never met Albashir before. I still have no idea why he attacked me.
“It's not knowing why he did this that makes it hard to process.
“Albashir has never provided and explanation for attacking me and I still do not know what he was thinking or why he did it.
“Since this incident I have not been able to walk past the street where it happened.
“It's only 10 minutes from my house but the thought of walking past fills me with panic and dread. I feel constantly on edge even going to the shops in Headingley.”
The court was told that homeless Albashir suffered from catatonic schizophrenia that could lead to persecutory beliefs, but he had still not provided an explanation for the attack.
The victim, who is in her 30s, had been walking on the opposite side of the road to the Original Oak pub at around 9pm on that fateful night.
A group of males stood outside the pub heard a scream and saw her being held by Albashir in a chokehold with one hand, while he thrusted a broken bottle neck repeatedly towards her head, neck and chest.
The men ran towards him and shouted at him to stop, but he ignored them and persisted.
One member of the public then aimed a punch at Albashir, knocking him over the low wall. He got up but a second punch rendered him unconscious.
The woman had injuries to her head neck and chest. She has been left with scar on her chest which “constantly reminds her” of that night.
Albashir was given a hybrid hospital order by Judge Robin Mairs that means he will be detained in a psychiatric unit until he is deemed fit enough to serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.