EXCLUSIVE: Machete thug goes on the run after being allowed out of jail to visit mosque accompanied by prison officer but ‘got lost in the crowd’ – just two years into his eight-year sentence
- Mohammed Waqas attacked a man’s car with a machete and a baseball bat
- Was jailed for seven years and ten months in 2019 after the attack in Tipton
- Waqas attended mother’s funeral at Zia-UL-Quran mosque in Saltley yesterday
- MoD source told MailOnline that Waqas was accompanied by a prison officer
- But he became ‘lost in a crowd’ and ‘ended up not returning’ to prison
Mohammed Waqas was jailed for eight years in 2019 for attacking a man’s car with a machete and a baseball bat outside a petrol station
A thug behind a machete attack on a pedestrian has gone on the run after ‘getting lost in a crowd’ while on compassionate release from prison to visit a mosque.
Mohammed Waqas was jailed for seven years and ten months in 2019 for being part of a gang who attacked a man with a machete and baseball bats outside a petrol station in Tipton, in the West Midlands.
He was allowed out on compassionate release to attend his mother’s funeral at the Zia-UL-Quran mosque in Saltley, Birmingham, yesterday.
A Ministry of Justice source told MailOnline that while Waqas was accompanied by a prison officer he became ‘lost in a crowd’ and ‘ended up not returning’ to prison at the end of the day.
He is not believed to be dangerous, but police have urged the public not to approach him.
In 2019, Waqas plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, breaching an anti-social behaviour order and driving without a licence or insurance.
He and a gang of others chased down a 31-year-old pedestrian in a car.
The victim jumped into a passing Vauxhall Corsa which was followed to a petrol station forecourt where a group of men – including Waqas – attacked the car with baseball bats.
Waqas was allowed out on compassionate release to attend his mother’s funeral at the Zia-UL-Quran mosque in Saltley, Birmingham (pictured), yesterday
The victim was beaten over the head and had his legs slashed with machete – leaving him needing surgery.
Two other people from inside the car escaped.
He was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison on January 9, 2019 – but was released on temporary license and moved to HMP Sudbury, an open prison in Derbyshire.
West Midlands police have launched a man hunt.
A Prison Service spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Absconds are extremely rare and those who do so face tough consequences, including being returned to closed prison conditions where they may have to serve additional time.’
In 2019, Waqas was plead guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, breaching an anti-social behaviour order and driving without a licence or insurance. He and a gang of others chased down a 31-year-old pedestrian in a car before attacking it with baseball bats
‘The number of absconds has almost halved over the last ten years and have fallen by more than half at HMP Sudbury since 2016.’
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘Officers are hunting for prisoner Mohammed Waqas who has absconded while on day release in Birmingham.
‘The 29-year-old – who is serving a prison term for assault at HMP Sudbury – has fled after being granted release on compassionate grounds yesterday.
‘Although he’s not considered to be a threat to anyone at this stage we would ask people not to approach him.
‘We’re following a number of lines of enquiry but anyone with information can contact us via 999.’
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