A Bradford man who terrorised shop workers during a two-day robbery spree before holding an axe to a taxi driver’s face and threatening to murder him has been jailed for eight years and four months.
Ismail Ahmed, 24, of Jesse Street, Fairweather Green, admitted 10 offences after targeting shops and petrol stations across Bradford while armed with an axe or hammer.
Bradford Crown Court heard his offending escalated over two days in May and ended with what the judge described as an especially serious threat against a taxi driver.
Judge Says Ahmed Posed A Danger To The Public
Sentencing Ahmed, Recorder Ella Anderson said she was satisfied he represented a risk to the public.
She imposed a custodial sentence of five years and seven months for the most serious part of the case, together with an additional three years on licence.
The overall sentence came to eight years and four months.
The judge said Ahmed’s behaviour involved multiple offences, different weapons and threats of very serious harm.
Co-op Attempted Robbery Led To Taxi Attack
On May 11, Ahmed travelled by taxi to a Co-op store on High Park Drive.
He told the driver to wait nearby before entering the shop.
Ahmed climbed over the counter and threatened staff with an axe while attempting to get access to the till.
He left empty-handed and returned to the taxi.
‘I’m Going To Murder You’
Once inside the vehicle, Ahmed became aggressive and told the driver to go faster.
He asked whether the taxi had a tracker before producing the axe.
The court heard Ahmed placed his arm around the driver’s neck, held the axe to his face and said: “I’m going to murder you.”
He also threatened to take the taxi.
The driver managed to get his hand between his neck and the axe blade before eventually bringing the car to a stop and running away.
Ahmed moved into the driver’s seat, but the taxi driver had taken the keys with him.
Ahmed fled and was arrested later that day.
Robbery Spree Began Two Days Earlier
The court heard the taxi incident was the culmination of offending which began on May 9.
At around 7.30am, Ahmed entered an Esso petrol station on Wakefield Road.
He threatened to stab a member of staff unless he complied with his demands and escaped with around £400.
Premier Shop Targeted
At around 6pm the same day, Ahmed entered a Premier shop on Beacon Road.
He told staff he had “something on him” and demanded they open the till.
A brief struggle followed.
Ahmed fled after being told a panic alarm had been activated.
Hammer Threat At Morrisons Daily
Ahmed then went directly to a Morrisons Daily on Allerton Road.
There, he pulled out a hammer and threatened staff that he would “smash it over their heads”.
He escaped with around £842 in cash and cigarettes.
Police later identified him using CCTV footage.
Returned With Axe Two Days Later
At around 5.50am on May 11, Ahmed entered another Premier shop on Legrams Lane.
He produced an axe and told the shop assistant to open the till.
Around 90 minutes later, he returned to the Premier store on Beacon Road which he had targeted two days earlier.
Female Worker Pushed During Second Beacon Road Attempt
Ahmed climbed over the counter while carrying the axe.
He pushed a female member of staff aside and attempted to force open the till.
A struggle followed and Ahmed gave the woman a countdown before fleeing after a member of the public called police.
He then travelled by taxi to the Co-op on High Park Drive.
Tried To Run From Police
Ahmed attempted to flee when officers arrested him later that day.
He also told police he had taken a drug overdose.
During interview, he answered “no comment” to a number of questions, denied the offences and eventually refused to continue.
He also refused to provide a sample for Class A drug testing.
Pleaded Guilty To 10 Offences
Ahmed later pleaded guilty to 10 offences.
They included two robberies, five attempted robberies, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a bladed article and refusing to provide a drug test.
Previous Robbery Conviction
The court heard Ahmed had four previous convictions covering 11 offences.
Those included conspiracy to rob, for which he had previously received a sentence of 67 months in a young offender institution.
He had been released only five months before beginning the latest series of offences.
Mental Health And Substance Abuse Raised In Mitigation
In mitigation, the court was told Ahmed had complex personality traits including emotionally unstable personality disorder.
He had experienced childhood trauma and domestic violence which affected his education and development.
The court also heard he had a history of self-harm and had said at the time of his arrest that he wanted to kill himself.
His defence said there was a link between his mental health difficulties and substance misuse.
Matters were said to have deteriorated after he returned to Bradford from supported accommodation elsewhere.
Judge Describes Offences As ‘Extremely Serious’
The court heard Ahmed had expressed remorse and regret but did not fully appreciate the psychological impact of his behaviour on his victims.
Recorder Anderson told him: “These were extremely serious offences using weapons to make threats and instil fear in those you encountered.”
She also ordered the axe seized by police to be forfeited and destroyed.
