Two sentenced for assaulting man during violent disorder

Two men have been jailed for attacking an innocent man during violent disorder in Darlington.

Arian Ahmed and Mujmain Uddin chased the man before attacking him in what was described as a ‘racially motivated’ attack.

The violent assault was captured on CCTV and showed the man being knocked to the ground before being kicked and punched.

The pair wrongly thought the victim had been making racial slurs towards them during violent disorder, which happened on the evening of August 5 in the North Lodge Park area.

Dozens of police officers were deployed to the area after small pockets of serious violence erupted between two groups of mostly males.

Ahmed handed himself in to police after seeing his picture posted in a police social media appeal and was later charged with violent disorder, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon. 

Uddin was also arrested and charged with the same offences.

The pair pleaded guilty and appeared at Teesside Crown Court on Monday (September 2) for sentencing.

The judge sentenced 19-year-old Ahmed to ten months detention in a young offenders’ institute, while 21-year-old Uddin was jailed for 12 months.

Chief Inspector Victoria Cubby, from Durham Constabulary, said: “The scenes we saw in Darlington that evening were atrocious and will not be tolerated.

“I hope this sends a clear message that anyone who commits these types of offences and tries to incite violence in our communities, that your actions have very real consequences.”