A family of landlords with a dark and violent streak has been handed hefty prison sentences totaling over 30 years. Mohammed Said, Mohammed Shakeel, and Mohammed Shamrez, collectively known as the "thug" landlords, subjected vulnerable individuals to brutal assaults within properties owned by their father's company in Bedford.
Their appalling acts of violence, documented in videos, featured the use of weapons such as a metal pole, bolt croppers, baseball bats, and even a meat cleaver, resulting in victims suffering severe injuries, including broken bones and fractured ribs. However, their own recordings proved to be their undoing as the evidence was used against them in court.
Detective Constable Matthew Jarman, who led the investigation, commented, "These three individuals have operated a brutal enforcement business of violence and intimidation targeting anyone they considered 'undesirable' in their properties. All of their victims were vulnerable in some way, and these men preyed on them as part of their enforcement scheme. The video footage we uncovered is truly shocking, and the victims have shown immense bravery in coming forward and assisting us in putting these individuals behind bars."
Jarman emphasized the link between violence, exploitation, and organized crime, urging the community to be vigilant and report concerns. He said, "This exploitation is happening right here in our communities. If you have concerns about someone or something, please report it to us."
In May 2020, Mohammed Shamrez and a family member forcibly entered a flat in Bromham Road, Bedford, where they viciously attacked a visitor. The victim suffered severe injuries, including a broken leg.
After the assault, Shamrez arrogantly declared, "Do you know who I am? This is my building." Police arrested another brother, Mohammed Shakeel, on the same day, discovering video evidence of seven additional assaults on his phone, dating back to February 2019.
The horrifying footage captured various acts of violence, including the use of bolt croppers, as well as brutal punching and kicking that resulted in a victim's fractured rib.
In one incident, a dispute over a parking space led to a savage attack with a baseball bat, while one of the brothers brandished a meat cleaver. One victim had to undergo leg amputation due to medical complications stemming from the assaults.
During sentencing, Judge Blake condemned the trio, stating that they were "motivated by the desire to assert power and control over those deemed less important." He described the videos as deeply disturbing, highlighting the defendants' arrogance and delight in inflicting pain and fear.
The sentences handed down are as follows:
- Mohammed Shamrez, 38, of Bromham Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to one count of causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, two counts of attempted GBH, and two counts of actual bodily harm (ABH). He received a 14-year and six-month prison sentence.
- Mohammed Shakeel, 26, of Bromham Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted GBH and was sentenced to six years in prison.
- Mohammed Said, 24, of Bromham Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted GBH, one count of causing GBH with intent, and one count of ABH. He received a sentence of 10 years and nine months.
In another development, a young male sex worker, Jose Henrique Aguiar Soares, found himself in a chilling murder case when he killed his elderly lover, an architect, in the Setor Oeste region of Goiania, in the state of Goias, Brazil, on September 25. See detailed story here
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