A mother who sustained 65 percent burns and spent two months in a coma after a gang petrol-bombed her Stoke-on-Trent home had to relearn how to walk following life-changing injuries that require ongoing medical treatment, with 10 men now convicted after an 11-week trial.
The 31-year-old woman survived despite expectations she would die from the horrific injuries sustained when multiple attackers doused her Beverley Drive property with petrol and set it ablaze on 16 December 2021. She also suffered a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and a lacerated liver after leaping from an upstairs window to escape the flames.
Her 13-year-old daughter sustained 15 percent burns to her right arm and right leg during the attack in the Bentilee area of the city. Both were forced to break the upstairs bedroom window and jump out after several men shattered ground floor windows and threw petrol in the hallway near the front door and outside close to the living room window.
Detective Constable Howard Davies from Staffordshire Police’s Major Investigations Department stated: “This was a very detailed and thorough investigation. We left no stone unturned to examine the circumstances of this case. This was a horrific ordeal for a mother to be set on fire in her own home in front of her daughter by a number of men seeking revenge.”
The revenge motivation stemmed from a brawl on Kildare Street, Longton earlier that day at approximately 4pm involving Naveed Hussain, Bilal Ahmed, Kashif Ahmed and Ali Abbas. Kashif Ahmed sustained a stab wound to his shoulder and sought hospital treatment. At 10.55pm the same evening, several men approached the Beverley Drive house demanding to speak with Naveed Hussain before launching the petrol bomb attack.
Staffordshire Police stated the case required extensive work to assemble CCTV, digital evidence and specialist material to bring each defendant to justice. The investigation reflects what authorities described as sustained commitment to securing justice for victims and ensuring full accountability for those involved.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michelle Hickmott of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service stated: “Following a thorough investigation working alongside our police colleagues, we are extremely pleased with the outcome of this case. Our investigation teams use their extensive skills and knowledge to identify when a fire has been started deliberately and then assist the investigation further to bring arsonists to justice.”
Nottingham Crown Court heard the 11-week trial that resulted in convictions for 10 men. Shakil Uddin, 23, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of attempted murder and arson with intent on Friday. Lukman Khan, 24, and Riyadh Iqbal, 23, both of Normacot, Stoke-on-Trent, were both found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and arson with intent.
Muhammad Sufyaan-Shah, 25, of HMP Hindley, Wigan, and Tayyeb Majeed, 23, of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, were convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent. Ali Abbas, 22, and Haris Mahmood, 21, both from Normacot, had previously admitted to two counts of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.
Naveed Hussain, 32, from Longton, confessed to violent disorder and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place in December of the previous year. Kashif Ahmed, 25, from Stoke-on-Trent, Bilal Ahmed, 26, from Normacot, and Ali Abbas, 22 from Normacot, had earlier pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
Emergency services were summoned to the property after the gang of men doused it with petrol and ignited it. The mother was also struck on the head as well as being set alight, adding to the catalogue of injuries she sustained during the attack.
The men have all been remanded in custody awaiting sentencing at a date, time and court yet to be fixed. The range of convictions from attempted murder to violent disorder suggests varying levels of involvement in both the afternoon brawl and evening arson attack.
