Iraqi man stabbed Southampton university student in bid to be deported

Rebaz Mohammed attacked first-year Solent University student Ellis Wheeler in the back leaving him with life-threatening injuries in Hoglands Park.

CCTV footage played at Southampton Crown Court showed 28-year-old Mohammed approaching his victim who was walking back from the gym.

After a short conversation where he asked Mr Wheeler if he knew how to kick box, the Iraqi national pulled a kitchen knife from his coat and swung it at the teenager's back.

The student ran away but lost consciousness - with a friend calling 999 and putting pressure on his wound until officers arrived.

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He was taken to hospital and underwent surgery for a collapsed lung and remained under observation for five days.

Mohammed was arrested at the park and later told police he stabbed Mr Wheeler in order to be arrested and deported back home.

In a statement read out at court, the victim said he missed his exams the following month and has struggled to sleep as he gets anxious at night.

Prosecuting, Andrew Houston said Mohammed knew he had to do something to be deported and had spoken to people who knew the immigration system.

He had previously been cautioned for criminal damage and battery and in May 2022, was jailed for 12 weeks for racially-aggravated harassment and stalking.

Police in Hoglands Park, Southampton after stabbing. (Image: Newsquest)

Mitigating, Richard Tutt said his client had come to the UK illegally via boat and had been “making what efforts he could to be deported” but had no work and no money.

Mr Tutt said: “He believed, from what he had been told, that he needed to commit an offence that was serious enough.

“He presents as a very naive person. He has experienced remorse, or at least sorrow.”

Mohammed, who was living in a hotel in Meyrick Road, Bournemouth, was given a six-year jail term with four-year extended licence.

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Sentencing him, Judge Brian Forster KC said: “When anyone carries out an attack with a knife it is down to chance.

“This was an indiscriminate attack. Any member of our community could have been the victim.

“You were willing to inflict a serious injury with a weapon to achieve your own end. You could have killed the victim.”

An order was made for forfeiture of the kitchen knife.

Commending the victim’s friend who put pressure on the wound until police arrived, the judge said he “may have saved [his] life”. He was awarded £250.