Two young men have been sentenced for their roles in a planned Bradford robbery in which a 17-year-old was surrounded by a balaclava-clad gang, threatened with a machete and robbed of his car.
Bradford Crown Court heard the teenager had driven to a shop on Gain Lane on November 27, 2024, with two friends after arranging to sell vapes to someone known as “Maz”.
When he arrived, “Maz” approached him, but the teenager also noticed five other males wearing balaclavas.
As he turned to look, his car keys were taken from the ignition.
His iPhone was then snatched from his hand as he attempted to get out of the vehicle.
Victim Punched To The Ground
Prosecutor Nicola Hoskins said the teenager managed to get out and told the group he was not going to give them anything.
A second male then searched him and took six £10 notes and a vape from his pocket.
The court heard that the same male instructed the teenager to tell his friends to get out of the car.
While doing so, he lifted his jacket and appeared to reveal a bladed article tucked into his waistband.
The teenager was then punched to the ground.
Four members of the gang got into the car, which contained a box of 30 vapes, and drove away.
Car Found Near Snooker Club
The stolen car was later recovered parked near a nearby snooker club.
The teenager’s mobile phone was found abandoned in undergrowth.
The gang left the area in a taxi.
Zaid Khan and Salim Mohammed were identified through the taxi booking and CCTV evidence.
When arrested, both answered “no comment” during police interviews.
Khan later claimed he had been the victim of mistaken identity, while Mohammed denied being involved.
The court heard the robbery victim did not provide a statement.
Khan Had Since Been Jailed For Kidnapping
Khan, now 21 and of no fixed abode in Bradford, had been of good character at the time of the robbery.
However, the court heard he was later sentenced to youth custody in July this year for kidnapping in a separate Bradford case.
That case involved the abduction of a man from Thornton Road in Allerton on November 18, 2025.
The victim was driven to Attock Park in Bradford Moor, where he was beaten, deliberately burned and threatened while money was demanded from him during an ordeal lasting around two hours.
Bradford Crown Court heard that at least five people were involved in planning that kidnapping.
Khan, then 20 and formerly of Greenhill Lane, Bradford Moor, was jailed for three years and two months.
Mohammed Samee, 21, formerly of Moor View Drive, Bradford, received six years and six months, while a 17-year-old youth was given a 24-month detention and training order.
Judge Previously Described ‘Torture-Style Violence’
In the kidnapping case, His Honour Judge Ahmed Nadim described the attack as a “serious, planned and prolonged kidnapping”.
He said the victim had been abducted from a public street, taken to another location, subjected to repeated violence including deliberate burning and pressured into obtaining money to secure his release.
The court heard Khan had not personally taken part in the violence after the victim arrived at Attock Park, although he had admitted kidnap on the opening day of the trial.
All three defendants were given 10-year restraining orders preventing them from contacting the victim.
‘Full Consequences Of Bad Decisions’
Mitigating in the latest robbery case, Jeevan Mann said Khan had been just 19 at the time and had never previously experienced custody.
Khan appeared by video link from HMP Doncaster.
His barrister said he was now experiencing “the full consequences of bad decisions he made as a younger man” and was genuinely remorseful.
Khan had nine months added to his existing period in youth custody.
Mohammed Avoids Immediate Custody
Mohammed, 20, of Tagore Court, Bradford, had no previous convictions.
His barrister, Mohammed Rafiq, said the robbery had been out of character for an immature 18-year-old who had committed no offences before or since.
He accepted Mohammed had tried to minimise his involvement but said the reality was that he had been with his “so-called friends”.
Recorder Shufqat Khan concluded the robbery had been planned.
He said: “This was an offence where arrangements had been made for the victim to come to a location.
“I do conclude it was planned because five of you were wearing balaclavas.
“When the victim was robbed, violence was used towards him. One of you had a machete as well.
“You two were part of that group that committed that serious offence.”
Mohammed was sentenced to 16 months’ youth custody suspended for 18 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake the Stepping Stones programme.
