“I’ve already been punished myself, literally almost dying from the incident and I’ve learnt my lesson.”
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A convicted drug dealer was left with a 'nasty' stab wound to his neck after chasing a man through Manchester city centre.
Mohsin Choudhry was jailed for four years in 2019 and had been out on licence for around six months when he drove to John Dalton Street in the early hours of January 16 2022. The 26-year-old pulled up alongside a Volkswagen Golf in his Mercedes, close to the junction of Deansgate, and got into an argument with a passenger in the other car.
During a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court, prosecution barrister Ben Lawrence said: "The Crown doesn't know the background but it appears obvious that there was some existing ill feeling".
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Choudhry got out of his Mercedes, along with two other men, and approached the Volkswagen. The passenger of the Volkswagen – the complainant in the case – then got out and Choudhry's group started to threaten him with physical violence.
Mr Lawrence told the court that CCTV showed Choudhry holding a "small object" in his right hand, but the footage was not clear enough to establish what it was. Choudhry and his two associates then walked towards the complainant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and chased him when he started to back away.
One of Choudhry's group was also seen on CCTV reaching into his waistband and lunging towards the victim, before Choudhry swung the 'object' towards his face. The complainant then "aimed a blow" at Choudhry but this "did not appear to connect", Mr Lawrence said.
"There were a fairly large number of bystanders on pavement," he added. "But it's right to say that not any seemed perturbed or aware any weapons were involved, probably dismissing as some kind of drunken escapade."
The complainant eventually managed to flee and hide as Choudhry's group made their way back to the Mercedes. Mr Lawrence said that the man then approached the open driver's window of Choudhry's car and "put his hand through twice in quick succession" and caught Choudhry in the neck, causing a "nasty wound".
Choudhry then pushed the door open and kicked out at the other man, who tried to land another blow on Choudhry, before leaving the scene. Choudhry then got into the passenger seat and one of his associates drove him to Manchester Royal Infirmary.
When police asked him about his injury, Choudhry did not give an explanation and answered no comment at interview. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder but denied possession of a bladed article. The prosecution offered no evidence for the knife charge and was found not guilty as a result.
Choudhry, of Northumberland Crescent, Stretford, represented himself during the sentencing hearing. Addressing Judge Hilary Manley, he said: "I'm sorry for what I've done and obviously I've already been punished myself, literally almost dying from the incident and I've learnt my lesson."
Jailing him for nine months, Judge Manley said: "You’re actually the person who sustained a serious injury. That was the risk that you ran when you behaved in that way."
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